PERVERSION. - It is the action or the effect of perverting, that is, of corrupting, of inducing someone to do what is not fitting. Generically it is said of diverting from the right path; in the psychological field p. is the disorder or alteration of some psychic function; in pathology it is said of seeking lascivious satisfaction outside the natural order (v. LUST); in the moral field p. is any aberration from good morals or from right feeling in matters of religion.

Therefore forms of p. are also apostasy (v.), heresy (v.) and schism. Directly aimed at preventing p. in the field of faith and morals are the measures taken by the Church regarding perverse and immoral books (v. IMPRIMATUR; INDEX OF PROHIBITED BOOKS). For the same reason it forbids the at least active participation of Catholics in the sacred ceremonies (prayers, functions, sermons, rites) performed by non-Catholics (heretics, schismatics, infidels) inside or outside their temples (v. COMMUNICATION IN SACRED THINGS). And it is still in part for this reason that it is unlawful to ask without necessity for the Sacraments (v.) from an unworthy minister and from heretical or schismatic ministers, even when they would be able to confer them validly.

Regarding marriage, the Church openly discourages the union between Catholics and non-Catholics, even if only heretics or schismatics (cann. 1060, 1070; cf. the apostolic constitution Arcanum of Leo XIII of 10 Feb. 1880). And even when it grants a dispensation, the Church requires the due guarantees (can. 1061 § 2) and does not permit liturgical solemnities in the celebration of the marriage (cann. 1102 §§ 1, 2; 1109 § 3).

Bibliography3 works

BIBL.: I. Bande, Et ceux qui ne pratiquent plus!, in Nuovo rev. théologique, 66 (1939), pp. 973-82; G. B. Buzzetti, La perdita delle fede nei cattolici, Rome 1940, passim; P. Hayoit, Les relations des fidèles avec les acatholiques, in Rev. diocés. de Namur, 4 (1949), pp. 110-26.

Andrea Gennaro

@incollection{ec9_perversione, author = {Gennaro, Andrea}, title = {Perversione}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {IX}, pages = {1261}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1952}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/perversione} }

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