SEVENTH AND TENTH COMMANDMENTS 25

 
A FAITH THAT DOES JUSTICE
(C 2401-2463, 2534-2557, USC Ch 31 & 34)

In this lesson we will look at: Catholic Social Teaching

• Common good and private property Modern Catholic social teaching is generally thought
• Seven principles of Catholic social teaching to have begun with the 1891 papal encyclical Rerum
• Forms of stealing Novarum (Conditions of Workers) by Pope Leo XIII.
• Greed and envy In that letter, the Pope addressed squarely the
horrendous conditions of workers in what had become
Seventh Commandment (C 2401-2463, USC Ch 31) industrialized and urbanized Europe. Many workers,
“You shall not steal.” including children, worked long hours in sometimes
The Catechism deals with the seventh commandment horrific conditions for paltry wages. In addition, their
as it pertains to the issue of stealing as well as the housing and living conditions in the large industrial
broader issue of the Church’s social teaching. We will cities of Europe were appalling.
first look at some of the broader issues and then What was new about Leo’s letter was that he not only
examine how we can violate this commandment. advocated works of mercy but also justice. He
Common Good and Private Property demanded a change in the social structures and
institutions of the day that were the causes of poverty.
The Catechism seeks to strike a balance between our He called for just and decent wages, for safe working
call to be concerned about the common good of all conditions, and for laws that would protect adults and
God’s people and our right to own and enjoy private children from abuse in the workplace. Leo insisted
property (C 2402-2406). that the God-given dignity of all workers throughout
The Catechism reminds us that in the beginning, God the world must be respected.
created the earth and its resources for the enjoyment Since Leo’s letter, his successors have addressed other
of all people. “The goods of the earth are destined issues like hunger, poverty, prejudice, discrimination,
[intended] for the whole human race”(C 2402). At the war and peace. Over the past one hundred years, the
same time, people have a natural right to own property Church has developed an impressive body of social
to help them take care of their own basic needs and teaching, sometimes called the Church’s best kept
the needs of those placed in their care. secret.
But the right to private property is not an absolute one. In 1995, sub-committees of the Catholic Conference
Private property owners have a responsibility to keep of U.S. Bishops came together to summarize our
the needs of the common good in mind as they Church’s body of social teaching. After much work,
develop, manage and use their goods. In reality none the committees distilled the main points of this
of us own anything. God is the sole owner. We who teaching into seven themes (listed below). These key
are blessed with private property are merely stewards themes or principles of Catholic social teaching give
or caretakers of God’s blessings (C 2402). It will us much food for thought.
always be a gross irresponsibility and serious sin for
owners of private property to live in utter luxury while 1. Life and dignity of the human person. All humans
millions of our brothers and sisters are starving to (born and unborn) are sacred, created in the image and
death or lack the most basic of human needs. In an likeness of God. People do not lose their dignity
ideal world, the common good fosters private because of disability, poverty, age, lack of success, or
property, and private property fosters the common race. This principle places persons above things―
good. being above having. It calls us, individually and as a
community, to protect human life at all stages and to
Pause: In today’s society, many wealthy people who own advocate on behalf of all whose dignity is mistreated.
several homes and live lavish lifestyles have a total disregard
2. Call to family, community, and participation. We
for the common good. How and why does this happen? Can
you give examples of people who have a deep concern for the
are reminded that we are not only sacred but also
common good? social persons. How we organize our society—in
economics, politics, in law and policy—directly
impacts the dignity of the human person and his/her
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capacity to grow in community. St. Paul tells us: “We
Pause: What are your thoughts and feelings on the Seven
are one body, when one suffers, we all suffer.” The
Themes of Catholic Social Teaching? Which one attracts you
family, being the heart of society, must especially be and challenges you the most?
protected and strengthened, and not undermined.
3. Rights and responsibilities. Catholic tradition
teaches that human dignity can only be protected and Simply put, Catholic social teaching helps us to
a healthy community achieved if human rights are understand and put into practice the two great
protected and responsibilities are met. Key human commandments: love of God and love of neighbor.
rights are the right to life, food, shelter, healthcare, The parable of the Good Samaritan and the ministry of
education, and employment. Corresponding to these Jesus teach us that our neighbor is everyone in need.
rights are duties and responsibilities to one another, to Catholic social teaching makes it clear that our love of
our families, and to the larger society. All must work neighbor can express itself through works of mercy
for the common good. (e.g. donating to food pantries) and through works of
justice (e.g., advocating for legislation that will help
4. Option for the poor and vulnerable. The moral test the poor). Catholic social teaching is about applying
of any society is how it treats its vulnerable members. the Gospel message to the social issues of our time.
While Jesus loved all people, he had a special love
and concern for the poor, the oppressed and the sick. Capitalism and socialism. The Catechism refuses to
So must we his disciples. The poor have the most give an unqualified endorsement to either “hard”
urgent call on the conscience of a nation. As a nation capitalism or “hard” socialism (C 2425).
and individually, we are called upon to look at public While socialist governments are not necessarily evil,
policy decisions and our own personal decisions in there is a danger in a socialist form of government.
terms of how they affect the poor. The Catechism (2423) states: “A system that
5. The dignity of work and the rights of workers. subordinates the basic rights of individuals and of
The economy must serve people, not the other way groups to collective organization of production is
around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it contrary to human dignity.”
is also a way to participate in God’s ongoing creation While the Church does not reject capitalism, “she has
of the world. Every person has a right to decent and refused to accept, in the practice of ‘capitalism,’
productive work, fair wage and good working individualism and the absolute primacy of the law of
conditions, not to mention private property and the marketplace over human labor” (C 2425). The
economic initiative. Catechism points out that the danger in capitalism is
6. Solidarity. We are all brothers and sisters in God’s that it “makes profit the exclusive norm and ultimate
family. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, end of economic activity” (ibid.), which is morally
wherever they live. We are one family, whatever our unacceptable.
nationality, racial, ethnic, economic or ideological International economics. The Catechism (2439) states:
differences. Learning to practice the virtue of “Rich nations have a grave moral responsibility
solidarity means understanding that “loving our towards those which are unable to ensure the means of
neighbor” has global dimensions in an interdependent their development by themselves or have been
world. prevented from doing so by tragic historical events. It
7. Care for creation. The earth and all that is in it is a duty in solidarity and charity; it is also an
belong to God. As stewards and trustees of God’s obligation in justice if the prosperity of the rich
creation, we are called to protect people and planet. nations has come from resources that have not been
We are not just consumers and users of the earth and paid for fairly.” In the sixth century, Pope Gregory
its resources; we are called to live our faith in the Great said: “When we attend to the needs of those
relationship with all of God’s creation. in want, we give them what is theirs, not ours. More
than performing works of mercy; we are paying a debt
(If interested in exploring more fully the above Seven of justice” (C 2446).
Principles of Catholic Social Teaching, read The Challenge
and Spirituality of Catholic Social Teaching by Marvin In his book What Your Money Means, entrepreneur
Krier Mich.) Frank Hanna writes: “We need to find out what it
means that you and I have money, and others do not.

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Can it be that God or Providence or Chance merely Tenth Commandment (C 2534-2550)
intends to bestow on me the means to have greater “You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.”
ease and pleasure? Have I been singled out by the
universe to take it easy? If so, why? What have I “Where your treasure is, there also will you heart be”
done to deserve to be pampered while others, not far (Mt 6:21). While the seventh commandment concerns
from here, fall asleep hungry, or die destitute in the the external acts of stealing, the tenth commandment
streets of Bangladesh? Can that be the meaning of my pertains to the inner attitudes, that of greed and envy,
money: that I have a good time while others suffer?” that lead us to steal and act unjustly.
(p. 112) We humans are born with lots of appetites and desires.
When we look at the strong emphasis the Church in For example, we eat when we are hungry and drink
our time places on social justice, we may wonder why. when we are thirsty. In and of themselves, appetites
The answer is simple: we know more today because are good but they can lead to excess and a desire to
we live in a global world. We also know more about have what is not ours.
the structural causes of social injustices, the dynamics The tenth commandment deals with two appetites,
of society that often give the rich and the powerful namely, greed and envy (also called covetousness)
unfair advantage over the hard working poor. which can get us into trouble and keep us from truly
enjoying the material things of life that God has
Pause: “When we attend to the needs of those in want,
blessed us with.
we give them what is theirs, not ours. More than
performing works of mercy, we are paying a debt in Greed. In the New Testament, Jesus frequently warns
justice.” Comment. his audience about the danger of material riches. In Lk
12:15, Jesus says: “Watch and be on your guard
against avarice of any kind, for a man’s life is not
Forms of Stealing made secure by what he owns, even when he has more
The Catechism has a long list of the various ways that than he needs.” Then Jesus goes on to tell the parable
we can steal and thereby sin against the seventh of the greedy man who decides to pull down his barns
commandment, e.g., business fraud, unjust wages, to build bigger ones to store his grain. The rich man
overpricing, tax evasion, poorly done work, forgery of thinks he will have years to eat, drink and be merry.
checks and invoices, excessive expenses and waste, Then comes the story punchline when Jesus says:
damaging private or public property (C 2409). Other “Fool, this night your life will be demanded of you…
forms of stealing are scams, embezzlement, money- Thus it will be for one who stores up treasure for
laundering, white-collar crime, wasting taxpayer’s himself but is not rich in what matters to God” (Lk
money. True repentance includes making restitution 12:16-21).
for stolen goods. We might say that Jesus called the rich man a “fool”
Gambling. Like so many issues in this commandment, not because he was rich, but because of his failure to
the Catechism has a two-sided approach. On the one share his wealth. There is an enormous difference
hand, “games of chance…or wagers are not in them- between the “greedy rich” and the “generous rich.”
selves contrary to justice.” On the other hand, The latter know that they are merely stewards or
excessive gambling is morally unacceptable (C 2413). managers of their material riches. In sharing their
wealth with the poor and for good causes, they store
Animals. The Catechism (2416) states: “Animals are up treasures in heaven for themselves.
God’s creatures…by their mere existence they bless
him and give him glory. Thus people owe them Envy. The Catechism (2537) states: “Envy is a capital
kindness.” “On the other hand, it is legitimate to use sin. It refers to the sadness at the sight of another’s
animals for food and clothing…and for medical and goods and the immoderate desire to acquire them for
scientific experimentation if it remains within reason- oneself, even unjustly. When it wishes grave harm to a
able limits…and if it contributes to caring for or neighbor it is a mortal sin.”
saving human lives” (C 2417). The Catechism further “St. Augustine saw envy as ‘the diabolical sin.’
states that “it is wrong to cause animals to suffer or From envy are born hatred, detraction, calumny, joy
die needlessly.” On the other hand, “it is also wrong caused by the misfortune of a neighbor, and
to spend money on them that should as a priority go to displeasure caused by his prosperity” (C 2539).
the relief of human misery” (C 2418).

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 grace of God, we care for each other and hold each
Pause: What causes us to be greedy and envious? What
helps you to deal with greedy tendencies? other together in many ways. We are called to give of
the gifts we have been given. The only thing we take
with us from this life is what we have given away…
Suggestions for dealing with greed and envy Many Americans just do not know how much
power they have to respond to the tremendous needs
Generosity. The best way to curb greedy and covetous
of so many people who suffer so much in so many
tendencies is by developing a generous and giving
ways. The problem is that many don’t even know the
spirit. Today, many Christians have adopted the
name of anyone who is desperately poor. They don’t
biblical practice of tithing 10% or more of their
know the name of anyone dying of starvation, working
income to their Church family and the poor (see Mal
at the garbage dump, or in need of medical care so
3:7-10). While not all are able to give the full 10%, all
their child will not die. They have never talked with
should be intentional givers. In other words, the
the lonely in a nursing home or prison. They don’t
Church and the poor should not just receive our loose
know the name of a bright child with no access to
change and leftovers. Ideally, giving to one’s Church
education. And so they do not have the will or the
and to the poor is a line item in every disciple’s
know-how to connect. Americans do respond
budget.
generously when they know who suffers and how they
Simple lifestyle. Blessed Teresa of Calcutta once suffer. The problem is we do not know…
said: “Live simply so that others may simply live.” A good first step is to look for opportunities to
One of the blessings of an economic recession is that meet people who suffer injustice. If we stay in our
it forces almost everyone to take a good look at how small communities and never get to meet the
they are spending their money. In a booming oppressed person, we will probably never awaken to
economy, it is very easy to misuse our financial the tremendous injustices around us. However, if we
blessings and to lose sight of the millions of people have the courage to reach out to the oppressed, we
who live daily in dire poverty. will find that there is tremendous power in the
encounter. It can cause a transformation within,
In short, the tenth commandment condemns greed and
leading to compassionate action. It can change the
envy, and calls us to be responsible stewards of God’s
face of the earth…
material blessings.
Most who have journeyed into poor communities
are wonderfully surprised to find that they are almost
Pause: What are your thoughts on the biblical concept of
stewardship—that God owns everything and that our duty is always welcomed with open arms. Missionaries
to be faithful and responsible stewards of his blessings? invariably relate that they were not only welcomed
with great hospitality, but found that they had much to
learn from the people they went to serve. They often
Suggested Actions say they found great faith, hope, generosity, and
humility among the poor. There is a wonderful,
Spend some time reflecting on the biblical concept of powerful conversion and transformation that
stewardship and on your attitude towards money and frequently takes place in the encounter.
material possessions. If you are presently not tithing, (The True Cost of Low Prices –
consider setting aside a percentage of your monthly The Violence of Globalization, p. 133-134)
income to support the Church and poor.
Pause: What spoke to you most in the above meditation?
Meditation

We are all really God’s children. We have been

dreamt by God to spend time here on earth, to awaken
to the kingdom that is before us and within us, and to
love. We are all here to love, to care for, to feed, to Fr. Eamon Tobin ©
teach, and to protect each other. Ascension Catholic Church
Dorothy Day, founder of the Catholic Worker, has Melbourne, FL
said that all of our work is a “work of mercy.” That tobin2@live.com
is, mother, father, bus driver, mechanic, secretary,
teacher, sister, priest, nurse, doctor, gardener; by the
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