Q: I watched a movie with my mom that had a scene that depicted rape. I have been mulling over whether this is a venial or mortal sin. As I was watching, I regretted even putting myself in this situation. I can’t remember if I tried not to watch, but I certainly was uncomfortable. Would that incidence be a mortal or venial sin? Additionally, I have been working on not watching movies or TV with any sexual scenes; however, it’s in almost every movie/show, which makes it difficult to go to the movies with family or friends. I’ve had to reject a few invitations to movies because they include sex/nudity. I would love to keep avoiding going to these movies and avoiding funding them (would love for Hollywood to start having to make real art and stop using gratuitous sex scenes). For the purposes of knowing whether to abstain from the Eucharist in any case that I fail and fall into sin — I would like to know, definitively, is it a mortal or venial sin to watch sex scenes in movies? Is it the same as pornography? – B.A.
Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC
A: Let’s say at the start that Ask a Priest can’t decide on the gravity of every sin.
In the case of that movie you saw with your mom, you weren’t looking for this material, you were unsure about your reaction at the moment, and you felt uncomfortable. All this might lessen the gravity of the act.
That said, it might be good to step back and re-read your question.
You ask whether watching sex scenes is a venial sin or a mortal sin.
What if in some cases it was “only” a venial sin — would you still do it? If your answer is yes, you might be heading toward mortal sin sooner than you think. To deliberately decide to offend God is how people starting slouching toward grave sin.
You seem to rightly sense that much of much Hollywood fare is trashy. It degrades what is sacred about the human body.
Viewing secular media nowadays is like walking through a minefield. What sane person would ask, “Gee, I wonder how far I can wander into this field without getting blown up?” Anyone with sense would stay far away from a minefield.
In the case of the media minefield, it’s not our life or limbs at risk. It’s our souls. Many media outlets are an occasion of grave sin for countless people, including customers and producers and distributors.
You ask about pornography. The Catechism in No. 2354 says:
“Pornography consists in removing real or simulated sexual acts from the intimacy of the partners, in order to display them deliberately to third parties. It offends against chastity because it perverts the conjugal act, the intimate giving of spouses to each other. It does grave injury to the dignity of its participants (actors, vendors, the public), since each one becomes an object of base pleasure and illicit profit for others. It immerses all who are involved in the illusion of a fantasy world. It is a grave offense. Civil authorities should prevent the production and distribution of pornographic materials.”
By definition, then, anything that displays real or simulated intimate sexual acts would count as pornography.
A few suggestions might be worth considering:
First, get to confession.
Second, resolve to avoid impure movies and TV and other media in the future.
Third, come up with a strategy for handling invitations to these kinds of movies. This might include having a strategy to keep your own home filth-free.
It might be good to have a talk with Mom and the rest of the family about why you don’t want to see these kinds of movies anymore. Think of encouraging your family to make a pact to police the media in your home.
Fourth, look for positive alternatives. Try building a DVD library of classic, clean movies, for instance. Or find a website where you could stream clean films.
Think ahead, too, to your relationships with young men. How will you deal with a boyfriend who wants to see a racy movie? What kind of home would you want for a husband and children?
Whatever you do, don’t be afraid to be radical. Who knows how many souls will be lost because of racy media.
