Property, truth, and rightly ordered desire

Question 373

What is the seventh Commandment?

The seventh Commandment is: Thou shalt not steal.

Question 374

What are we commanded by the seventh Commandment?

By the seventh Commandment we are commanded to give to all men what belongs to them and to respect their property.

Question 375

What is forbidden by the seventh Commandment?

The seventh Commandment forbids all unjust taking or keeping what belongs to another.

Question 376

Are we bound to restore ill-gotten goods?

We are bound to restore ill-gotten goods, or the value of them, as far as we are able; otherwise we cannot be forgiven.

Question 377

Are we obliged to repair the damage we have unjustly caused?

We are bound to repair the damage we have unjustly caused.

Question 378

What is the eighth Commandment?

The eighth Commandment is: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

Question 379

What are we commanded by the eighth Commandment?

We are commanded by the eighth Commandment to speak the truth in all things and to be careful of the honor and reputation of every one.

Question 380

What is forbidden by the eighth Commandment?

The eighth Commandment forbids all rash judgments, backbiting, slanders, and lies.

Question 381

What must they do who have lied about their neighbor and seriously injured his character?

They who have lied about their neighbor and seriously injured his character must repair the injury done as far as they are able, otherwise they will not be forgiven.

Question 382

What is the ninth Commandment?

The ninth Commandment is: Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife.

Question 383

What are we commanded by the ninth Commandment?

We are commanded by the ninth Commandment to keep ourselves pure in thought and desire.

Question 384

What is forbidden by the ninth Commandment?

The ninth Commandment forbids unchaste thoughts, desires of another's wife or husband, and all other unlawful impure thoughts and desires.

Question 385

Are impure thoughts and desires always sins?

Impure thoughts and desires are always sins, unless they displease us and we try to banish them.

Question 386

What is the tenth Commandment?

The tenth Commandment is: Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods.

Question 387

What are we commanded by the tenth Commandment?

By the tenth Commandment we are commanded to be content with what we have, and to rejoice in our neighbor's welfare.

Question 388

What is forbidden by the tenth Commandment?

The tenth Commandment forbids all desires to take or keep wrongfully what belongs to another.

Justice includes repair

Questions 373, 374, 375, 376, 377

Respect for property includes stewardship, fair work, just exchange, care for creation, and concern for the poor. Theft, fraud, exploitation, and deliberate damage require restitution or reasonable reparation when possible; inability calls for honest counsel, not denial.

Truth and reputation

Questions 378, 379, 380, 381

Truth must be spoken with charity and respect for legitimate privacy. Lying, perjury, rash judgment, detraction, and calumny harm communion. Serious injury to reputation calls for proportionate repair, while correction must not create a further falsehood or expose victims to danger.

Desire, consent, and freedom

Questions 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 388

Temptation, intrusive thoughts, and unwanted feelings are not automatically sins; moral responsibility involves knowledge and consent. The ninth and tenth commandments call for purity of heart, modesty, gratitude, simplicity, and freedom from envy and greed—not shame about embodiment or another person's good.

Luke 19:1–10

Zacchaeus joins conversion to concrete restitution and generosity rather than leaving repentance abstract.

1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

James 3:2–12

James depicts the disproportionate power of speech to bless, curse, guide, and destroy.

2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.