Article I. On Impure Kisses

I say 1st. Kisses had for the sake of venereal pleasure, in whatever part of the body they are done, are always a mortal sin, and contract a malice diverse in species according to the various circumstances of the persons. The reason for the first is drawn from prop. 40 condemned by Alexander VII, which has itself thus: "The opinion is probable which says that a kiss had for the sake of carnal and sensible pleasure which arises from the kiss is only venial, with the danger of further consent and of pollution excluded." But the reason for the second is that kisses immediately and directly touch the person to whom they are given, and accordingly are judged to take on the morality of the consummated act to which by their own nature they tend. - Cf. St. Alphonsus, n. 417.

I say 2nd. Actual venereal pleasure being excluded, the sin of kisses will have to be measured from the danger of experiencing that pleasure, and accordingly if the danger is proximate, the sin must again be judged mortal; but if remote, the sin will be either only venial or none. But the danger is always and from its own nature reputed proximate if kisses are done on immodest or base parts, such as the genitals and places near them, and almost always if they are done on less modest but not base parts, as are the arms, breast, and legs. But if kisses are had on modest parts, such as the face and hands, the danger also is judged proximate, at least ordinarily, if they take place often, lingeringly, outside the custom of the country, and between persons of diverse sex. The reason for all these things is evident of itself, and is confirmed from the common consent of theologians, from consideration of human nature, and from experience itself. Cf. St. Alphonsus, nn. 417 and following.

You Will Resolve. - 1st. Ordinarily those kisses which are called columbine are to be reputed mortal, namely by introducing the tongue into the mouth, especially if they are not done from jest or wantonness, but in a more pressing manner and between persons of diverse sex.

2nd. The opinion of Sanchez, the Salmanticenses, and other theologians asserting that modest kisses had between betrothed persons, even if some pleasure is intended which is midway between venereal and natural, and a slight stirring of the genital spirits is present, are not mortal sins, with danger of pollution or consent to copulation excluded, is held as practically improbable by St. Alphonsus. Indeed the holy Doctor holds that the opinion teaching that such acts are prohibited to betrothed persons in the same way in which they are forbidden to unmarried persons is much more probable, even speculatively, and altogether to be followed. The reason is that the betrothed do not yet have mutual right over bodies, nor do they have the right to copulation, to which alone such acts are ordered. But because the first opinion does not seem altogether destitute of reasons and authorities, perhaps it can sometimes be useful to confessors. Cf. St. Alphonsus, de matrim., n. 854. - Baller., note (a), p. 402.

3rd. Kisses which mothers or nurses are accustomed to impress upon infants lack fault. And the same must be said at least ordinarily of others who kiss infants of tender age, even of diverse sex, any wicked affection being excluded.

4th. Young persons of either sex who in some games, decently and without wicked intention, kiss one another, are not at once to be accused of grave sin, although they are to be turned away from games of this kind on account of the danger annexed to them.