Morals of the Church
Library › Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology › Volume II › Book III. On the Aids of the Christian Life, or on the Sacraments › Treatise V. On Penance › Dissertation II. On the Sacrament of Penance › Part II. On the Ministration of the Sacrament of Penance › Section II. On the Ministration of the Sacrament of Penance to Certain Persons in Particular › Chapter IV. On the Confession of Those in Occasions of Sin › Article II. On Some Occasions in Species

Section — Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology

§ IV. On Dances

470.

I. "Dances according to themselves are not evil, nor acts of lust, but of joy" (St. Alphonsus, III, 429). Nevertheless, they can be illicit by reason of the end, for example for the sake of seeking lust, which more easily happens in masked dances than in others; by reason of danger, especially because of the manner in which they are held; by reason of scandal; likewise by reason of danger arising from the fact that young men and girls, after dances have been held, go home without a companion. Besides this, even respectable dances should therefore also, as far as can be done, be kept away, because, especially if they become more frequent, they foster levity of mind both in young men and in girls, and diminish their devotion. Children's dances (bals d'enfants) likewise are greatly to be disapproved.

As regards the danger attached to dances, note: dances which are held publicly are commonly more dangerous than those which are led among a few families; likewise there is greater danger in dances which are conducted with masks; dances of the wealthy, by reason of dress, and popular dances, by reason of levity in acting and speaking, not at all rarely carry grave danger with them; and generally the matter depends much on social condition and education.

II. As regards the proximate occasion which dances are naturally suited to constitute, I would say as follows:

  1. Very immodest dances, whether by reason of dress or nakedness, or by reason of the manner in which they are conducted, are commonly a proximate occasion of sinning.

  2. Fairly immodest dances create a proximate occasion for many, especially young men. To these are numbered many dances used today, which require a close embrace of the dancers and also furnish occasion for contacts of bodies. The reason why the said dances, although fairly immodest, constitute a proximate occasion only for many - but not commonly, especially as regards girls - is this: because the mind during dancing is distracted to other things and especially occupied with rhythmic movements, which keeps many from intense impure thoughts.

  3. Respectable dances by reason of themselves are a proximate occasion for some. They can, however, easily be - and this is also to be applied to other dances - a proximate occasion by reason of the lack of a companion on the return.

Corollary. Very immodest dances are to be prohibited. As regards others which are a proximate occasion for the penitent, one must see whether they create danger by reason of themselves or by reason of the lack of a companion. If the first has place, the dances themselves are to be wholly prohibited to the penitent, unless a grave reason excuses, for example the absolute will of parents or of a husband; and this prohibition, if the matter concerns fairly immodest dances, is to be urged even more because of the scandal attached to them. If the second happens, the obligation of not going home without a companion is to be urged.

III. Those who introduce dances easily sin gravely, whether by promoting them, or by holding them, or by giving over a house for holding them. If, however, the custom flourishes in all neighboring parishes, it is almost equivalent to existence in one's own parish. Besides this, innkeepers are bound to take care that all things are done respectably.

IV. Where the custom of dances does not exist, the pastor and confessors should prudently keep them away, even respectable ones. Where it exists and cannot prudently be abolished, one must labor so that they are not prolonged too much, and so that young men and girls do not return home without a trustworthy companion. Besides this, pastors and confessors, insofar as it can prudently be done, should turn the faithful away from dances.

Dances