Chapter 31 — "The Seventh Commandment: Do Not Steal—Act Justly"
OPENING PRAYER
O Lord, open my eyes that I may see the needs of others
Open my ears that I may hear their cries;
Open my heart so that they need not be without succor;
Let me not be afraid to defend the weak because of the anger of the strong,
Nor afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the rich.
Show me where love and hope and faith are needed,
And use me to bring them to those places.
And so open my eyes and my ears
That I may this coming day be able to do some work of peace for thee.
Amen.
Alan Paton
Jesuitresource.org
"THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT: DO NOT STEAL—ACT JUSTLY"
—CCC, Nos. 2401–2463
Have you ever taken property belonging to another person without their permission?
We are called to respect people and their possessions. The Seventh Commandment forbids theft or stealing, the taking of someone’s property or money “against the reasonable will of the owner.” Theft includes not just robbery, but also actions such as embezzlement, computer theft, fraud, identity theft, counterfeit money, copyright violations, pirating of music or computer software, mail scams or other type of scams.
We should not steal from one another, pay unjust wages, cheat in our business dealings, or exploit the weakness of others to make money. Our promises should be honored and our contracts kept to the extent that they are morally just. We should pay our just debts, and fulfill our obligations to which we freely commit ourselves. The government has the right and the duty to enact laws to protect the legitimate ownership of money and property and to protect people from theft and injury. A violation of this Commandment requires reparation and the restitution of the stolen property.
To help us keep this Commandment. “we need to acquire the virtues of moderation in our possessions, justice in our treatment of others, respect for their human dignity, and solidarity with all peoples. Moderation curbs our attachment to worldly goods and restrains our appetite for consumerism. Justice helps us respect our neighbor’s rights and be interested in their well-being. Solidarity opens our hearts to identifying with the whole human family, reminding us of our common humanity” (USCCA, p. 419).
We do not live in isolation. We are social beings who live in relationship with others such as our spouse, children, family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, Parish, community, and other cultures to which we belong.
The Seventh Commandment concerns issues of social justice and human dignity. It recognizes the basic rights of individuals both economically and socially. The Church offers and promotes religious and moral principles that speak to prominent social issues.
The central focus of the Church’s social teaching is “justice for all,” especially for those who are poor or who are helpless. All of the Church’s social teachings are centered around the fundamental principle of the sacredness of all human life and the inherent dignity of every human being.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are all called to learn, practice, promote, and live the social teachings of the Catholic Church. We will discuss more about Catholic Social Teaching in later sessions.
Please read this week USCCA,Chapter 31, "The Seventh Commandment: Do Not Steal—Act Justly" (pages 417–428), the CCC, Nos. 2401–2463, (pages 577–590), and the Compendium, Nos. 503–520
VIDEOS
"The Seventh Commandment" (Fr. Dan O'Reilly)
"You Shall Not Steal" - CCC 2401-2418 (Fr. Daniel Mahan)
"Social Doctrine" - CCC 2419-2463 (Fr. Daniel Mahan)
MUSIC
"Healer of My Soul" (John Michael Talbot)
"How Lovely Is Your Dwelling Place"
"I Can Only Imagine"
OTHER RESOURCES
"What's Mine is God's and What's Yours is God: A Presentation of the Seventh Commandment"
"Catechism Commentary--Possessions: The Seventh Commandment
"The Seventh Commandment" (Mark Shea)
"Catechism Commentary--Possessions: The Seventh Commandment
"The Seventh Commandment" (Mark Shea)