Catholic Faith Refresher Course

THE SEVENTH AND TENTH COMMANDMENTS

"Thou shalt not steal." (Exod 20: 15 ) "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods." (Exod 20: 17)

DIRECTIONS TO THE STUDENT

As you study this lesson, realize that the goods of the world are sacred things given by the good God. Perhaps you have not been guilty of any serious sin against the Seventh Commandment. If not guilty of such serious sin, examine your conscience on thrift, on the prudent management of your family finances, on gambling that might become sinful, and on cheating your employer by wasting time at work.

A.   INTRODUCTION

      God is a generous provider. He has put at the disposal of men more than enough of this world's goods. A man must get a sufficient amount of this world's goods to lead a good Christian life and to raise his family in decent comfort. It is most difficult for a man to lead a good life and to raise his family in the ways of virtue without a sufficient amount of this world's goods - food, clothing, shelter and money in the bank. When a man has gained these things for himself and for his family, God protects him with two commandments: the Seventh, "Thou shalt not steal," and the Tenth, "Thou shalt not covet (desire to steal) thy neighbor's goods."

B.   THEFT AND ROBBERY

       Stealing means taking anything which does not belong to me and which the owner is not willing to give me. Stealing is frequently called theft if it is done secretly and robbery if it is done openly. People commit this sin in several ways: borrowing an article without the owner's consent, even with the intention of giving it back; borrowing something with the owner's consent, and then refusing to return the goods; running up a charge account when one foresees he will never be able to pay it back, and thus forcing personal bankruptcy. To this might also be added defrauding the bank, insurance companies or the social welfare system by false financial reports.

Follow this good advice so that you won't be tempted to steal: Don't be two steps ahead of the bill collector all your life. Don't buy on the installment plan and pay huge interest rates ordinarily charged by credit cards if you can't afford the purchase. Learn to budget you money well. If you have difficulty preparing a budget, or if you are one who can't stop buying what he can't afford, see the Consumer Credit Counseling Service available in most cities.

Don't get into the habit of buying things you can get along without, especially buying things that are beyond your means. Don't live extravagantly. Living above your means leads to fighting at home; you may lose your peace of mind and never be at ease; you may come to look upon yourself as a poor provider and wreck your family life; you may even be tempted to steal. Get out of the rut: make a resolution now that you will never buy on the installment plan; resolve to get along without many of the luxuries of life, and then you will have a peaceful Christian family life.

C.   GRAVITY OF THEFT

       Ordinarily, if one steals a large amount, it is a big sin-a mortal sin. If one steals a small amount, it is a small sin-a venial sin. However, to steal a small amount from a poor person, or to steal a small amount over a period of time to the point it becomes a large amount, these would be serious sins. For example, a school boy steals some pennies from the newsstand -a small sin, another boy steals $10 from the comer grocery, a large sin. (We emphasize the difference in the gravity of sins, because some non-Catholics think that all sins have the same malice).

D.  DANGERS OF PETTY THIEVERY

      Even though a person takes only small amounts at various intervals, these small amounts can add up and become a mortal sin if that is his intention. Small thefts, even though they may not be a grave sin are bad for several reasons. They are venial sins, and venial sin is the greatest evil in the world next to mortal sin. In order to have the sin forgiven, you must always return the amounts stolen. The vice of stealing grows rapidly; the petty thief soon finds himself entangled in larger thefts; he loses his peace of mind in trying to pay back what he has taken. It is terribly hard to break a bad habit! The priest cannot forgive you if you do not sincerely promise to pay back as soon as possible what you have taken. Remember that no one trusts a thief. Usually people recognize a thief; it's a vice you can't keep hidden very long: you'll have difficulty keeping your job and your friends. If a child steals even small amounts of money or something else, be firm in admonishing him. Teach him that honesty is always the best policy.

E.  TAKING ANOTHER'S GOODS WHEN YOU ARE IN EXTREME NEED

In our country it is never necessary to take another's goods, even if you are hungry. When you are in extreme need, you can go to a charitable agency or to the Church. They will help you through your rough times.

F. RESTITUTION

     If you have to take the property of another it is absolutely necessary to restore what you have taken; you cannot just forget about it. The first thing the priest will ask you in Confession is, "Did you give it back?" or "Do you promise before God to give it back as soon as possible?" Otherwise, the priest cannot give you absolution for the sin. "If that wicked man restore the pledge and render what he had robbed and walk in the commandments of life and do no unjust thing; he shall surely live and shall not die." (Ezech. 15)

Restitution must be made as soon as possible. Delay amounts to additional injustice and additional sin. The creditor suffers because of your delay. If, for example, you owe bills the company may have to hire collectors to go to you many times and threaten you with the law; you are thus making your sin greater. You must restore the exact amount taken, not just what you feel like giving. You don’t have to publicize your sin, the restitution can be made secretly. For example, sending money back through the mail without signing your name is one way of restoring the value of stolen property.

G.  IF YOU FIND SOMETHING

      If you find something, you must make a reasonable effort to find the owner. The amount of effort you should make to find the owner depends on the value of the article. If it is something expensive, like a watch, you might be obliged to advertise in the newspaper for the owner. If it is something inexpensive, only a little effort is necessary .If you have made a reasonable effort and cannot find the owner, you may then keep the article.

H.  FRAUD AND LYING IN SELLING GOODS

To sell bad or second-rate articles as new and first-class items is to break the Seventh Commandment. Merchants also break the commandment by fraud in weight or measure or number. "Do not any unjust thing, in judgment, in rule, in weight, or in measure. Let the balance be just and the weights equal, the bushel just, and the sextary equal." (Lev. 19:35-36) "Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful balance is not good." (Prov. 20:23)

I.  AN EMPLOYER CHEATING HIS WORKERS

The employer sins, often grievously, by cheating the worker out of a living wage, by not giving him decent hours and good working conditions. The worker is entitled to a wage sufficient to maintain himself and his family in decent comfort. The employer cannot buy labor as he buys raw material; he is dealing with human beings and their families.

Pope Leo XIII encouraged workers who are abused to join collective bargaining units, or unions, to help win security from the employee against injustice. However, the unions of today may actually lead to injustice among workers. Choose your local union carefully if you decide to join.

J.  A WORKER CHEATING HIS EMPLOYER

By loafing on the job, doing careless work, wasting material or time, you are cheating your employer and committing the sin of theft. You must restore the money unjustly taken from your employer, just as if you had stolen it from the cash register. If repairmen and others cheat their customers, they are committing the same sin.

K.  OBTAINING MONEY UNDER PRETENCE OF POVERTY

There are some miserable souls who detest the notion of work so much that they will defraud the government by pretending to be poor and incapable of working. It is this same class of people who will go around begging for money instead of making an effort to work. Don't encourage people like this. Give you donations to legitimate charitable organizations.

L.  THOSE WHO WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT

When those who work for the government waste their time or neglect their duties, they not only defraud their employer, but they steal money from the public trust. The taxes paid by citizens of our country are meant to help defray the cost of running government. If government employees waste time and material, they waste away this trust Government employees are obliged to do their job well.

M.  DAMAGING ANOTHER'S PROPERTY

Damaging property of another can be done in a variety of ways, e.g. damaging and/or defacing public property such as street lights, or writing graffiti on the inside or outside of buildings, toilets, etc. Damaging private property means neglecting to give reasonable care to buildings or property that is rented or leased, destroying the personal property of another in areas around their home or at work. Whether the property is public or privately held, willfully damaging it can be a serious sin.

N. CORRUPTING JUDGES, POLITICIANS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS

People sin by urging politicians to break their oath of office or by asking them to overlook violations of the law. By doing this, they often cooperate in an injustice done to another. Here are some examples of this sin: tavern owners pay the police so that they can stay open after legal hours; gamblers pay to operate against the law, and the like.

O. GAMBLING

Gambling of itself is not a sin. However, excessive gambling can be a mortal sin. Excessive gambling means using money needed for family support at gaming tables. If you have a real weakness for gambling, stay away from it entirely.

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW OF THIS LESSON 

1. What kind of sin is stealing?

        Are these things sinful?:

2.  Not returning what I borrow?

3.  Running up a charge account and not paying?

4.  Not giving a workman a just wage?

5.  Wasting time and material on a job?

6.  Depriving a family of money by gambling or spending it foolishly?

7.  Bribing officials?

8.  Not paying your bills?

9.  Damaging the property of others?

10. Cheating another of some money?

11. Not returning found articles?

12. Selling articles with hidden defects?

13. Are we allowed to keep stolen goods?