CathInfo.com

You write English very well, even compared to most native English speakers...

As for the rest,

The moral reasoning here looks sound to me...

Governing principles from the pre‑Conciliar tradition:

Moral species: object, end, circuмstances. An external action (listening) is evaluated by what it is in itself, the agent’s intention, and the circuмstances. Mere listening to lively music is not intrinsically evil; culpability depends on interior consent and proximate occasion. (Prümmer; Thomistic manual tradition).

Delectation and consent. Manuals distinguish involuntary movement of the passions from deliberate delectation. If one deliberately takes pleasure in sensual arousal produced by music, moral fault increases; if one resists or is indifferent, there may be no sin. (Prümmer; classical casuists).

Proximate occasion of sin. Music that directly and immediately excites lust or leads one to commit a sinful act is a proximate occasion and may render listening sinful if the agent freely places himself in that occasion. Manuals advise avoiding such proximate occasions. (Traditional moral manuals; Prümmer).

Scandal and harm to others. If listening (or publicly promoting) certain songs scandalizes others or leads them into sin, that adds a grave circuмstance and can make the act sinful for the agent. (Classical moral teaching on scandal).

Application to “passionate beats” and sinful lyrics:

Passionate beats (rhythm, tempo): Rhythm alone is morally neutral. It becomes morally problematic only if it is used to stir sensual passions and the listener consents to that stirring or deliberately cultivates sensual delectation. (Prümmer; Thomistic reasoning).

Sinful lyrics: Explicitly immoral lyrics (blasphemy, erotic incitement, advocacy of vice) are a serious negative circuмstance. Listening with approval or repeating such lyrics can be sinful; passive exposure with no consent may be venially or not culpable depending on prudence and occasion. (Pre‑Conciliar manuals on occasion, consent, scandal).

Bottom line: According to pre‑Vatican II moralists (Prümmer and the classical tradition), listening is not intrinsically sinful; culpability depends on whether the music is a proximate occasion of sin, whether one consents to sensual delectation, and whether scandal or grave harm results.


To this I would add that - if it looks Satanic (evil), smells, Satanic (evil), or sounds Satanic (evil) - then it would only make sense to stay away as the first principle of the natural law is, “Good is to be done and pursued; evil is to be avoided.”