Theatrical Spectacles

421. 1. Spectacles of themselves are indeed an indifferent thing; since by their nature they are a play which, if it is held honorably and moderately, contains nothing evil in itself. Therefore if spectacles were altogether harmless, they could licitly and freely be attended merely for the sake of solace and recreation. But as spectacles are now, they almost always contain a greater or lesser occasion of sinning.

The sins for the committing of which they furnish occasion are: alpha. sins of lust, either because of the base or at least amorous matters which are represented, or because of their various circumstances, especially because of the immodest clothing which is seen both in the actors and in the spectators, or because of the indecent dances which are inserted into the scenes; beta. sins against faith, when revealed truths and Christian institutions are held up to mockery, vices and crimes are raised up with praises, but virtues are despised as base and ridiculous.

2. Spectacles which contain only a remote occasion are not gravely illicit; therefore they can be attended from a just cause. Spectacles in which notably base things or things notably contrary to religion do not occur ordinarily do not present a proximate occasion, but an occasion more or less remote; hence according to the gravity of the danger a graver cause also is required which excuses entrance, and suitable precautions which remove the danger of sinning must be used with greater solicitude.

A cause excusing in this way is not solace and recreation, but something graver is required, e.g., the will of a husband, the command of parents, the condition of service in those who must accompany a master or mistress, the reason of utility once or twice in those who must acquire knowledge of these things for an honorable end.

3. Spectacles which contain a proximate occasion of sinning are of themselves gravely illicit; therefore they can be attended without grave sin only from a grave cause and with suitable precautions used. Spectacles in which notably base things or things notably contrary to religion occur ordinarily present a proximate occasion, especially those in which scenic dances are inserted among the acts; but by reason of frailty, even spectacles which contain less indecent and less irreligious things can be a proximate occasion.

A sufficient cause from which spectacles of this kind could be attended is indignation of a husband or parents which cannot otherwise be avoided; but not a mere command, nor, as Berardi rightly notes, the loss of the price already paid for entrance, which is not recovered by not attending, nor, ordinarily at least, a philanthropic end to which the profit is destined, because the price can be paid even without attending.

4. Actors, and especially directors, gravely sin by the sin of scandal if they present plays which are either gravely obscene, or notably excite to lust, or gravely offend religion.

Note. 1. As far as can be done, all, but especially young persons of both sexes, must earnestly be turned away from attending theaters; for modern theaters are full of dangers, they foster levity and sensuality, impede virtues, and weaken the vigor of the soul. How those are to be treated who either cannot or will not abstain from gravely dangerous spectacles was said above concerning dances.

2. Since today those things which are exhibited in theaters are ordinarily evil and full of dangers, it is not licit to attend a theater unless knowledge has first been had of the thing to be exhibited. Especially must parents make themselves more certain about this matter before they can grant permission to their children to attend a theater.

III. Cooperation in dangerous amusements. 1. To perform plays or dances notably dishonorable is gravely illicit, and no excusing cause seems able to be admitted. The same must be said of plays notably contrary to religion (cf. St. Alphonsus, III, 428). A somewhat milder judgment seems to have to be made about musicians.

2. To concur in introducing plays of this kind, if the concurrence is necessary, cannot be excused. Nor in practice will an excusing cause be present, even if the concurrence is not necessary. But to favor plays or dances of this kind by applause is formal cooperation.

3. To introduce amusements which indeed are not in themselves dishonorable, but are dangerous to very many, is of itself a grave sin (n. 551).

I. Theatrical spectacles can be dangerous both by reason of themselves and by reason of dances which are inserted; and rather often, because of the dancers' dress, manner of dancing, and lascivious gestures, they strongly excite to venereal things.

II. As regards the proximate occasion which they are naturally suited to constitute, hold these things:

1. Very immodest spectacles and dances are a proximate occasion for very many. Likewise spectacles notably contrary to religion create grave danger for many.

2. Fairly immodest spectacles and dances are a relative occasion; lighter ones are a grave danger for some (St. Alphonsus, III, 427).

3. If spectacles are attended especially for hearing music, the danger is more easily removed, provided the theaters are not too foul. And as regards dances, it must be noted that spectators can more easily leave on occasion of them.

III. In doubt whether a spectacle which will be exhibited is shameful or contrary to religion, to attend it is of itself illicit. Besides this, the confessor should prudently turn penitents away, especially from attending public theaters, also for this reason: because frequenting theaters, just as frequenting dances, promotes levity of mind and diminishes devotion.

16. From those things which were said in the two preceding articles, judgment can be borne concerning theaters, namely whether those who are present at theaters sin. For if they sin, they can sin only on account of base looks, or base things heard. Now then, theaters of themselves are not evil, but indifferent, since they can be had well and badly. Yet ordinarily speaking, it cannot be denied that they are full of dangers, especially for adolescents, whose blood is already sufficiently boiling of itself; for they foster luxury, feed the sight basely, enervate the soul, and sharpen passions. - Wherefore there is no sin either to be present at comedies, or to act them, if they are honorable. "The office of actors, which is ordained to exhibiting solace to men, is not according to itself illicit," says the Angelic Doctor, 2.2, q. 168, a. 3. - But if they are somewhat base, the hearer will sin only venially, unless perhaps he knows by experience that he is moved vehemently by entertainments of this kind toward lust, with proximate danger of consent, so that the spectacle is for him a proximate occasion of sinning. - If finally the comedy is notably base, either in itself or in manner, he sins mortally per se. Per se; for it would be venial to view it only on account of curiosity, or on account of empty solace, with all danger of base delectation excluded; nevertheless, practically speaking, this danger will easily be present in adolescents, or in others of little timorous conscience; and unless scandal is present, which plainly would be present if clerics and religious were present at base comedies, as Benedict XIV observes. - L. 427, 428; Hom. Apost., tract. 9, n. 10; G. 247.

408. - 1. Those who perform base theatrical works sin mortally, because they are the ruin of their neighbor. A proportionate necessity, according to the general principles, can excuse material cooperation. Yet no profit regularly excuses from the performance of a very base play. At most, it can be tolerated that, in order to avoid the gravest necessity and with the danger of impure pleasure remote, someone take part in it once or twice, until another manner of living, diligently sought, is found ¹. Cf. what was said above, no. 394.

¹ Cf. St. Alphonsus, book 2, no. 56; and Tamburini, In Decalogum, book 5, chapter 1, § 4, no. 28, to be compared with book 7, chapter 8, § 5, no. 1.

But if someone must - as happens not rarely - illustrate the obscene signification itself by tone or gesture and thus excite applause, this seems to us to be a direct provocation of evil, which can never be excused.

2. Magistrates themselves who permit these things sin gravely of themselves. Nevertheless, they can sometimes be excused if, in order to prevent a greater evil, they do not punish them and merely tolerate them. In large cities, it can scarcely happen that, according to received custom, they do not permit certain things to be performed. But they never ought or are able to admit things properly base if they have the authority to prevent them.

Therefore, a Catholic magistrate will endeavor so to diminish the evil that he avoids ridicule harmful to his authority; yet on the other hand it cannot be said that good morals make no progress under Catholic magistrates.

409. - To attend very base plays without necessity and to watch those things which of themselves move one greatly is judged grave of itself, unless someone has learned by experience that he is little moved by these things.

To attend plays which are not very base from curiosity will be venial, unless grave scandal or one's own danger should prohibit the matter more gravely for you. All guilt will be absent, with precautions employed, if there was a just cause for attending: as if servants, children, or wives, unless they accompanied them, would suffer the grave indignation of their master, father, or husband; or if one were compelled, as it were, to attend by a public office; or if there were a true usefulness for a Catholic man in knowing these things sufficiently, lest, to the detriment of his activity, he seem too much a stranger in his own region.

But you should observe that the senses are excited more by lascivious dances which are often inserted than by the plays themselves; and that in frequenting theaters it often happens that the danger proceeds, more than from the things performed, from other persons attending or from the companions with whom they are approached. Therefore, it is to be counseled of itself that a wife accompany her husband, rather than that he go alone to watch theatrical performances.

This genus of lascivious dances is also accustomed to be exhibited in "circuses." Nor do the girls who take part in equestrian performances use modest clothing. Wherefore these spectacles must often be judged no more mildly than theaters: they are not rarely more stimulating to the spectators.

410. - One who favors plays of this kind with money, but not insofar as they are base, furnishes material cooperation which is to be estimated according to the general rules. Cf. Palmieri, Opus theologicum, vol. 2, treatise 6, no. 994.

N.B. Concerning counsels on attending or not attending theaters, cf. above, no. 204.

IV. Spectacles, like dances, of themselves are not evil nor illicit, because honorable and moderate play contains nothing evil in itself, II-II, q. 168, a. 3; today, however, most spectacles which are exhibited in public theaters are gravely evil:

a) either because they are notably base, whether because of obscene things which are represented, or because of women immoderately uncovered, especially if they are looked at with telescopic spectacles, or because of dances which, inserted between scenes, ballets, are dishonorable because of quasi-nudity, lascivious gesticulations, and immodesty of the dancers;

b) or because they are notably contrary to faith and religion, which they hand down as tyrannical and bloody, an enemy of science and progress, ridiculous, false, superstitious, inept, etc., or they direct these things against priests and religious whom they exhibit as given to base dealings;

c) or because they are notably contrary to the moral law, while they contemn virtues as vile and extol vices and offenses, e.g., vengeance, homicide, suicide, adultery, divorce, neo-Malthusianism, vices of the flesh, certain modes of injustice, etc. But if they are not notably impious or base, or only in passing have something contrary to religion or gravely obscene, they will be lightly dishonorable.

Hence to be present at spectacles can be a mortal sin from three circumstances:

1. from a depraved end, whether of satisfying lust or impiety;

2. from proximate danger of perversion in faith or morals;

3. from grave scandal of evil example. And therefore not only the following sin gravely:

a) those who compose depraved spectacles, or

b) those who exhibit them, namely directors and actors; but also

c) those who foster them by applause or subscription, at least if without these they would not have place;

d) those who attend them indiscriminately or permit their own to attend, unless a grave cause excuses under due cautions.

Therefore similar rules hold as for dances: 1) If the danger is grave or a proximate occasion of mortal sin, only a grave cause can excuse, and indeed under fitting cautions by which the danger becomes remote. A sufficient cause will be prudent fear of notable damage, such as long-lasting indignation of husband, parents, master; a public office compelling attendance; the necessity of watching over a spouse; necessity or great utility of knowing these things; not however a mere command, nor loss of the price paid for entrance, nor a philanthropic end.

2. If the danger is not grave but remote, from a reasonable cause it is licit to attend, such as not only comfort and recreation, but, for example, the will of the husband, command of parents, reason of service in those who must accompany a master, reason of utility of knowing these things, propriety of state.

3. If someone attends evil spectacles on account of curiosity and empty comfort, danger and scandal having been excluded, he sins venially.

The danger is to be judged from experience and circumstances:

a) there are spectacles so impious or dishonorable that regularly they are a proximate occasion of sin for all; then they are to be held as such unless someone is most firm in faith or has experienced that he is moved little; this danger, however, is rarely absent in adolescents.

b) On the contrary, that which generally is not a proximate occasion can be a proximate occasion and sin for someone by reason of special fragility.

c) The dangers are greater in small theaters, which are accustomed to be worse than great ones in which cultivated society intervenes.

d) The danger is sometimes greatly attenuated if the spectator does not understand the dramas, or if he does not attend to the representation but only to the music.

V. The duty of the confessor. - a) The first is to turn all away from spectacles, as much as he can, because they are full of dangers, alien from the evangelical spirit, excite passions, foster sensualism, and enervate the soul. The custom of attending takes away all devotion and often is a proximate occasion of sinning.

b) Actors of base and impious scenes cannot be admitted to the sacraments unless they either renounce the profession or at least abstain from scenes of this kind: they are public sinners furnishing public scandal.

c) As regards those who have sufficient reason for attending, let the confessor strive to diminish the danger, e.g., by admonishing that they not deliberately use telescopic spectacles and not attend scenic dances or not attend to them.

1443. - Of these: 1) Some are notably shameful - whether on account of notably shameful things either exhibited or recited in them (n. 295. 8°), - or on account of women with breasts and arms enormously uncovered either acting in or present at the spectacle, especially if, as is usual, they are contemplated with telescopic eyeglasses (opera-glass), - or on account of scenic dances (ballets), with which they are commonly intermingled. 2) Others besides are contrary to our most holy Faith, - whether because they traduce the Catholic Religion, now as tyrannical, bloodthirsty, cruel; now as hostile to knowledge, lights, progress; now as ridiculous, despised, vile; now as false, superstitious, impious, - or because they expose sacred rites, and the Sacraments themselves, to mockery, or exhibit priests, Pontiffs, Religious men, and nuns as given to shameful things, - or because they extol or excuse crimes, e.g. vengeance, suicide, adultery, vices of the flesh, etc.

1444. - Query. What practice must be held as to theatres?

Resp. 1° "Let Pastors prudently avert the faithful from theatres ... and scenic games, especially those which are known to be full of evil and danger. Let them take care, however, lest by following opinions too rigorous they restrict Evangelical liberty. For if there are games of this kind which are subject neither to danger of sinning nor to scandal, it can be permitted to laymen to be present at them. But in preaching let them censure in general and grave words those games which, as very often happens, offer nothing except occasion of sinning." Thus the Plenary Council of Baltimore II.

Resp. 2° Absolution is to be denied in the following cases:

1) To some by reason of scandal (n. 295. 8°), unless a proportionate cause of permitting the scandal is present (n. 296 sq.).

2) To others by reason of cooperation in things notably shameful or gravely adverse to Religion. But cooperation will be either positive, namely by money or applause; or negative, namely by not impeding those things, when either by office there is an obligation of impeding them, or at least otherwise they can conveniently be impeded.

3) To others by reason of a voluntary occasion, namely: a) to spectators of representations which are contrary to Faith and Religion, unless both the character of scandal and the danger of perversion are absent, e.g. in a person most firm in Faith and very well fortified against falsehoods; b) to spectators of comedies even not gravely shameful, namely those to whom they are a relative proximate occasion; c) to spectators of gravely shameful comedies, unless they approach the spectacles only out of curiosity or for vain solace, the danger of consent in shameful delectation being excluded. By reason of this danger St. Alphonsus says: "I would in no way excuse from mortal [sin] an adolescent who without necessity wished, for the sake of curiosity, to be present at" gravely shameful "comedies of this kind, unless someone were very fearful [of God], and moreover had experienced several times that he had never sinned lethally by watching them; provided that by his example he did not furnish other adolescents an occasion of assisting at shameful representations of this kind"; d) today also universally to those who approach a theatre, without having first had certitude concerning the absence of obscenities and impieties. The reason is that, from things commonly happening, they expose themselves to probable danger. But especially fathers of families must make themselves certain concerning this matter before they concede to children the liberty of approaching a theatre.

I said in Resp. 2° under 3): to others by reason of a VOLUNTARY occasion; for if a cause sufficiently grave and sufficient for approaching the theatre is present - as if parents or a husband command, AND at the same time great disturbance and discord would inevitably follow if their will were resisted - those approaching are to be treated according to the principles of necessary occasion. - But a cause sufficiently grave and sufficient will not be that, e.g., the price for entrance through the whole time in which the representations will have place has already been given; - for the price is not recovered by attendance; - or that there is question of a representation from which the profit to be received is destined for a philanthropic end, e.g. for a children's asylum, for a hospital, for the poor, etc.; for, if someone wishes to contribute something to that end, he will be able to do it without approaching the representation, namely by paying the price without attendance. Nevertheless this cause can sometimes have force, namely as to magnates, whose absence would have to be much noted, so that publicly they would have to be reproached as inhuman, cruel, enemies of the poor, etc.; especially if factions were fervent, and there were question of a matter which greatly interested those factions; in which case it will belong to the prudence of the confessor to determine whether such and so great a necessity is present which excuses both from individual danger and from scandal, or whether a way can easily be found of saving body and soul at the same time, e.g. by removing oneself from the city, by presenting oneself at the theatre for a brief time and afterward departing, etc. - Thus Berardi.