ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL MORALITY

(The Seventh & Tenth Commandment)

  • The SEVENTH COMMANDMENT

What it forbids, commands and requires (See CCC 2401)

  • God is the true owner of things. He only entrusts them to us as stewards. Although property may be privately owned, its use must be for the benefit of the common good. (See CCC 2402-2406)

SINS AGAINST THE SEVENTH COMMANMENT:

  1. Theft (See CCC 2408)
  1. Retention of goods lent or objects lost, etc.(See CCC 2409CCC 2434)
  1. Breach of Contract (SeeCCC 2410)
  1. Gambling (See CCC 2413)
  1. Enslavement of human beings (See CCC 2414)
  • Reparation for injustice committed requires the restitution of stolen goods to their owner (See CCC 2412)
  • Man’s relationship with the earth: We are its Caretaker (earth conservation) andMaster (responsible exploitation) (See Gn. 2:15

CCC 2415)

  • Man’s relationship with animals: Animals are created for man. We owe them kindness but not to the extent of affection dues only to persons.(See CCC 24172418)
  • The Church and Politics: The church may not involve itself in politics but may make judgment about economic and social matters. (See CCC 2442CCC 2420)
  • Economic & Social Systems:

-To make profit the exclusive norm and ultimate end of economic activity is morally unacceptable and a system that subordinates the basic rights of individuals or groups to the collective organization of production is contrary to human dignity (See CCC 2424)

-Totalitarian and atheistic ideologies associated in “Communism” and “Socialism” as well as individualism and the law of the market place over human labor associated with “capitalism” must be rejected (See CCC 2425)

-The balance must lean towards solidarity i.e. commitment of oneself to the common good (John Paul II, Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 38).

“The principle of solidarity can be expressed in this simple formula: human beings are inevitably bound to one another, and depend on one another in many ways. Consequently, they must put these bonds into effect in a fair way for the good of individuals and of the whole. They are responsible in relation to others and to the community, just as the community in its turn must take care of the individual members.” (A. Gunthor, Call and Response)

  • The TENTH COMMANDMENTforbids coveting the goods of others (See CCC 2536)

-Desire for too much or greed for money, power and things(See 1 Tim 6:8-10Lk.12:16-21)

-Those who have a harder struggle against criminal desires (See CCC 2537)

-Envy (See CCC 2538 –2540)

“Blessed are the poor in spirit” – detachment fromriches (See Lk.14:33Mt.6:19-21)

Holy Abandonment: “Abandonment to the providence of the Father in heaven frees us” (See CCC 2547Mt. 6:25-34)