Can a song be pornographic?

[prstoessel]

But what if I didn’t ask? I didn’t want to listen to it (and kept asking for God’s help for the entire length). I knew songs could be an occasion of sin (but they’re not for me), but I didn’t know they could be pornographic. I’d still like to know about the situation though.

What about that?

If this is someone whom you know, and you still have a difficult time asking, pray to the Holy Spirit to give you the courage you need to speak up for what is right.

If there is something objectionable in the air by way of what is on the radio or in conversation, you should speak to the truth of whatever makes that objectionable. If you are too inhibited by embarrassment, fear of offending the other party, or otherwise, then sit quietly with your eyes closed and pray to the Holy Spirit to guide you.

All of the gifts of the Holy Spirit allow us to to do two things: 1) Evangelization of the Gospel message among those whom we are in contact with and, 2) Defending the faith with our words and actions. If you are baptized, you have these gifts within you. If you are also confirmed, you are sealed with these gifts in such a way that He will not fail you if you ask for His guidance.

 

[wworld]

Thanks so much for the advice.

It worked for me today (twice). I was able to ask the person to change a song that I’d at least consider suggestive. I asked at the beginning but the person refused. I prayed a little and told the person it was a bad song. They didn’t believe me at first so I told them to listen closely. Since they probably wouldn’t change it if I told them to listen closer, I didn’t sin by giving scandal or willingly listen to it (because I don’t think it would’ve been changed any faster or, for that matter, at all if I didn’t do what I did), right?

Also, for some other times when this has happened to me (before this thread was made) I didn’t have the courage to ask to change it even though I prayed for help. Did I sin there?

Something just seemed to ‘click’ today. Because I feel more sure in whatever I’m doing. But these seem to be the only two real questions that I’d like an answer from this forum.

 

[prstoessel]

When the circumstances are beyond your control, there certainly is no serious sin. Perhaps you should confess it, but it is not a mortal concern.

 

[CuriousInIL]

Well, the CCC defines pornography as follows:

2354 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.

So, that’s the definition. Depending on how broadly you want to define “display,” it might be argued that an audio “display,” i.e., a song, could qualify. (Personally, I wouldn’t define display that broadly.)

The other part then is that it must concern “real or simulated sexual acts.”

There is no requirement regarding any sort of sexual arousal.

 

[Curious_Seed]

Can a song be pornographic? When? How explicit would the song have to be?

Do you have the same trouble discerning pornographic images or is it only with songs that you need clarification? Do you have the same trouble with the written or spoken word or, again, is it only songs that mystifies you?

You ask how much explicit, because you want to know the degree of explicitness [as if a lesser degree need not be under consideration]?

Very interesting.

 

[prstoessel]

So, that’s the definition. Depending on how broadly you want to define “display,” it might be argued that an audio “display,” i.e., a song, could qualify. (Personally, I wouldn’t define display that broadly.)

This is not an all-inclusive definition of pornography. Rather it is the church’s articulation of what it “consists” and why it is gravely wrong. The dictionary I use (and I checked a couple others) all say that the intent and purposes thereof are for the sexual arousal of its recipients. But even if sexual arousal is not the intent (although I’d be puzzled about that), anything that separates sex from its procreative and unitive purposes is gravely wrong.

Books with only words in them can be pornographic, such as romance novels. Music lyrics that specifically speak to illicit sexual acts are pornographic.

 

[Holly3278]

I am not sure if a song could be pornographic or not but it could definitely be sexually suggestive and therefore immoral.