1. What are the Seventh and Tenth Commandments?
“Thou shalt not steal.
“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods.”
2. What is meant by stealing?
Stealing means taking anything which does not belong to me and which the owner is not willing to give to me.
This includes:
| Robbery and burglary | borrowing without permission |
| not returning what I borrow | not paying my bills |
| running up a charge account and not paying | damaging the property of others through my fault and not paying |
| not giving a workman a just wage | depriving my family of necessary money by gambling or foolish spending |
| wasting time or materials on my job | graft |
| cheating another of some money | demanding bribes |
| not returning found articles | selling articles with hidden defects spending |
3. What kind of a sin is it to steal?
It all depends on the value of the stolen goods Stealing something expensive is a mortal sin. Stealing something cheap is a venial sin.
4. Am I ever allowed to keep stolen goods?
I am obliged to give back the goods to the person from whom they were stolen, whether I stole the goods myself or got-them from somebody else.
No matter how small the theft, I must give it back, for example, silverware, ash trays, towels stolen from a hotel, articles taken from the place where I work. However, in some cases I may return it through another.
5. What must I do if I cannot find the owner?
If I cannot find the owner, I must give the stolen goods to charity, for example, the Catholic Charities or the Poor Box in the church.
6. What must I do if I damage or destroy someone’s property?
I must pay for the damage if I willingly (through my fault) destroy or damage the property of another.
If I do not pay for the damages I commit a sin; the sin is mortal or venial depending on the value of the object destroyed or damaged.
7. What should I do with something I find?
I have to try to find the owner and give him the article found. If the article is expensive, then I must spend some money advertising for him. If the owner shows up, he must pay me for the money I spent in trying to find him.
8. Is gambling a sin?
It is no sin to gamble if
1) the money belongs to me, and if
2) I do not deprive my family of the things they need, and if
3) everyone has an equal chance to win.
9. What are the duties of employees?
The duties of employees are
1) Not to waste time or materials
2) To do the job as well as possible.
10. What are the duties of employers?
The duties of employers are
1) To pay their employees a just wage
2) To provide for the safety of all who work for them.
11. What is the Eighth Commandment? “
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”
12. What kind of a sin is it to tell a lie?
1) If the lie harms someone seriously, it is a mortal sin.
2) If the lie does not harm anyone seriously, it is a venial sin.
“Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord: but they that deal faithfully please Him” (Proverbs 12:22).
13. Am I ever allowed to tell a lie?
No, I am never allowed to tell a lie, even a small one, because every lie is a sin.
“Wherefore putting away lying, speak ye the truth every man with his neighbor; for we are members one of another! (Ephesians 4:25).
14. What must I do if I have told lies about another?
If I have told lies about another, I must do everything I can to restore his good name and must make up any losses he suffered because of my lies.
15. Is it a sin to make known the hidden sins or faults of another?
Yes, ordinarily it is a sin to make known the hidden sins or faults of another, but sometimes I am bound to do so.
16. When am I bound to make known the hidden sins or faults of another?
I am bound to make known to the proper authorities the hidden sins or faults of another if someone else would suffer harm by the sins or faults.
17. What is the sin of perjury?
Perjury is telling a lie after swearing to God to tell the truth. This is a mortal sin.
“A false witness shall not be unpunished: and he that speaketh lies shall perish” (Proverbs 19:9).
18. What other sins are forbidden by the Eighth Commandment?
The Eighth Commandment also forbids unjust and unnecessary criticism, fault finding, gossip, backbiting, insults and judging another without evidence.
“If any man think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his own heart, this man’s religion is vain” (James 1:26).
“Judge not, that you may not be judged. For with what judgement you judge, you shall be judged” (Matthew 7:1, 2).