Article II. On Idolatry

502. Notion. Idolatry is latria, or the adoration of an idol. An idol, as it is taken here, is the image of a false divinity. Thus, for example, we speak of an idol of Jupiter, Mercury, the Sun, or the Moon, and of the diverse modes of fetishism, etc. As is evident of itself, divine worship is not attributed to the image itself, but to the person or thing represented through the image. Hence idolatry is nothing other than the adoration of some creature, whether animate or inanimate.⁷⁴³

Idolatry is sometimes taken in a metaphorical sense for every mortal sin, because in every mortal sin man renders as it were divine worship to a creature, since he prefers it to God, the Best and Greatest. In this sense St. Paul says: "For many walk, of whom I have told you often (and now tell you weeping), that they are enemies of the cross of Christ; ... whose God is their belly."⁷⁴⁴ This metaphorical idolatry is not under discussion here.

⁷⁴³ Cf. S. theol. 2, 2, q. 94, a. 1.

⁷⁴⁴ Phil. 3:18ff.

503. Divisions. 1. Idolatry is either material (simulated, external) or formal (internal).

The former is done only externally, from fear, command, or other motives, without a man inwardly willing to adore the creature; for example, when a Christian, from horror of torture and death, burns incense before a pagan idol, but inwardly despises the idol. The latter is done with the true internal intention of adoring a creature, for example, if someone with full deliberation adores the devil.

2. Formal idolatry is divided into perfect and imperfect.

The former is the adoration of a creature rendered by one who truly thinks that this creature is God. Such idolatry is always joined with infidelity, and even today exists among many pagans. Perfect and formal idolatry is also committed by those who, from hatred of God or from obstinate infidelity, worship the demon through so-called "black or diabolical Masses" or through other wholly wicked modes. Likewise, all who deny the existence of a personal God and nevertheless perform diverse acts of worshiping a fictitious divinity. The latter idolatry, namely, imperfect idolatry, is committed by one who, clearly knowing that no divinity is present in the idol, nevertheless renders divine worship to it from a depraved affection (for example, from hatred of God or from a desire to obtain something from the demon). This imperfect idolatry in one sense is a graver sin than perfect idolatry, since the latter is joined with ignorance that is more or less invincible, whereas imperfect idolatry proceeds from the mere malice of the will.

504. Moral malice. Every idolatry, whether material or formal, whether perfect or imperfect, is a most grave sin.

For a) it is most strictly prohibited in the first precept of the Decalogue: "Thou shalt not have strange gods before me, ... thou shalt not adore them [idols], nor serve them." Therefore it was always punished most gravely both by God among the Jewish people⁷⁴⁵ and by the Church, which was accustomed to impose the severest penance upon those who had fallen into idolatry.⁷⁴⁶ b) Idolatry is open rebellion against God. Concerning the gravity of this sin St. Thomas writes:⁷⁴⁷ "The gravity of a sin can be considered in two ways: in one way, on the part of the sin itself; and thus the sin of idolatry is most grave. For just as in an earthly commonwealth it seems to be most grave that someone should render royal honor to another than the true king, because, so far as lies in him, he disturbs the whole order of the commonwealth; so in sins which are committed against God, and which are indeed the greatest, it seems most grave that someone should render divine honor to a creature, because, so far as lies in him, he makes another God in the world, diminishing the divine sovereignty. In another way the gravity of a sin can be considered on the part of the sinner himself; as the sin of one who sins knowingly is said to be graver than that of one who sins through ignorance. And according to this, nothing prevents heretics, who knowingly corrupt the faith which they received, from sinning more gravely than idolaters who sin through ignorance. And similarly certain other sins can also be greater because of the greater contempt of the sinner."

Material and simulated idolatry also has always been held to be a grave sin; for a) it injures the virtue of religion by externally rendering to a creature an honor which must be judged divine by other men; b) it is the fullest lie in the worship of religion and is often joined with grave scandal of the people; c) it is contrary to the grave precept of professing the faith. Hence it is never lawful externally and by simulation to adore an idol, even in order to avoid death.⁷⁴⁸

Also reduced to material idolatry, and therefore gravely unlawful, is knowingly exposing for veneration or giving for Communion an unconsecrated host. Hence that pastor acted wrongly who had forgotten to consecrate the larger host and, in order to avoid the astonishment of the people, exposed an unconsecrated larger host in the monstrance, to which, however, he secretly joined a small consecrated host.⁷⁴⁹ Likewise another pastor acted wrongly who, while distributing Holy Communion, gave an unconsecrated host to a bridegroom who was not fasting, lest the bride and the others standing nearby suspect something unfavorable on the part of the bridegroom.

⁷⁴⁵ Cf. Ex. 32:8-35.

⁷⁴⁶ Thus, for example, the First Council of Nicaea, can. 12, imposed seven years of the severest penance upon those who had fallen into idolatry (Mansi, Ampliss. coll. Conc. II, 703).

⁷⁴⁷ S. theol., l.c., a. 3.

⁷⁴⁸ Hence also the so-called Libellatici were gravely punished in the ancient Church.

⁷⁴⁹ Cf. Casus conscientiae of Prosper Lambertini, afterward Benedict XIV, I, 380 (Liège ed., 1853).

505. Scholion. On penalties against idolaters. Under present ecclesiastical law there is no latae sententiae penalty against idolatry. Since, however, it is almost always joined with heresy, at least in those who have been validly baptized, the penalties enacted against heretics are to be applied. Moreover, the sins and penalties of Freemasons and of other similar societies are often joined with the vice of idolatry.