Article II. De Sodomia

Sodomy is a complete venereal act in an undue vessel, and it is a most grave sin against nature. Intercourse with the same sex, with copulation through the anus, is perfect sodomy; intercourse of different sexes, with copulation through the anus, is imperfect sodomy, which differs in species from the former. If sodomy is reserved, unless something else is expressly declared by the one who reserves it, perfect sodomy is understood.

Many theologians, however, teach that sodomy consists in intercourse directed to an undue sex, so that it is indifferent by what part the act is performed, provided the male member is applied to the undue sex with pollution. This opinion is certainly probable, indeed, as some say, common; hence it is enough if the confessor understands that there was intercourse with a desire directed to the undue sex and with pollution, nor is it necessary to inquire about the manner of the act.

¹ St. Alphonsus, 3, n. 466.

Sodomy, therefore, consists in intercourse with an undue sex together with pollution; whence, if anyone pollutes himself by simply touching another who is unaware of his malice, without affection toward the person and without intercourse, it is held to be pollution and not sodomy. If the other also sins, the circumstance of complicity must be made known in confession. It is probable that the sin of the one acting and of the one submitting are not distinguished in species, if pollution was present on both sides.