Unclean touch

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Often appears with: sin, guilt, and repentance · ritual uncleanness · original sin · leprosy and heresy · idolatry · god’s hatred of wickedness · gentile superstition · custom and unwritten law · contagion by looks or speech

Usually: argument (1) · indignation (1)

Summa Theologica, Part I-II (Pars Prima Secundae) primary

Thomas, Aquinas, Saint · c. 1265–1273
PART I-II ("Prima Secundae") > i.e. into imperfect men, "the bottles break, and the wine runneth out," i.e. the precepts are despised, and those men, from contempt, break into evils worse still. (82/91)

The text adds that touching the unclean makes others unclean, contrasts this with Jewish law limiting Gentile superstition about contagion by speech/looks, and justifies the symbolism by God’s hatred of the wicked.

sins which was to be effected by Christ, and of which those of old became partakers by protesting their faith in the Redeemer, while taking part in the figurative sacrifices. The impediments to external worship consisted in certain bodily uncleannesses; which were considered in the first place as existing in man, and consequently in other animals also, and in man's clothes, dwelling-place, and vessels. In man himsel…