Download Section 3, Part 3 – The 7th and 10th Commandmts

Christian Morality: Our Response to God’s Love
Section 3, Part 3 – The 7th and 10th Commandmts – Justice vs Injustice
Vocabulary for SEC 3 PT 3 - Commandments 7 & 10
almsgiving Freely giving money or material goods to a person who is needy.
charity The decisive point of the social question is that goods created by God for everyone should in
fact reach everyone in accordance with justice and the help of charity.
Church It continues to give society moral guidance on issues of justice and peace.
commutative justice Fairness in agreements and contracts between individuals.
conciliar Something connected with an official council of the Church.
concupiscence Feelings of envy and greed are the result of this, the vestiges of Original Sin.
corporal works of mercy Charitable actions that respond to people’s physical needs and show
respect for human dignity.
demons Saint Ephraem the Syrian says that when you envy your neighbor, you give them a place to
rest.
distributive justice - Sees to the just distribution of the goods of creation
envy Resentment or sadness because of another person’s good fortune.
goodwill To have this toward others is to desire what is best for other people.
“Gospel of Work” Pope Benedict XVI told young people in 2007 that it is necessary and urgent to
proclaim this, to become apostles among workers.
greed The passion for wealth and the power that comes from it. The desire to accumulate earthly
goods beyond what we need.
Jubilee Laws The Israelites, every fifty years, return land that had been bought and sold during that
time to the original families.
Justice - That which enables us to render to God and each person their due; the chief Cardinal virtue
which includes truthfulness and humility
laity The Church calls the laity to take initiative in addressing the causes of poverty and to bring
greater justice to economic and political systems.
land Because farming and herding were the ways people survived, land was their most basic
possession.
legal justice - Regulates citizen’s obligations to larger society
mammon An Aramaic word meaning wealth or property.
parables Stories rooted in daily life that use symbolism or allegory as a teaching tool and usually
have a surprise ending.
plagiarism Copying someone else’s words or ideas without permission.
poverty of heart The recognition of our deep need for God and the commitment to put God above
everything else in life.
pride Envy often comes from pride, a belief that we deserve special treatment.
private property The fact that the earth’s resources are meant to be shared does not negate the
principle of private/personal property.
prophets Along with Jesus, they warn us against the dangers of failing to take care of the needs of
the poor.
providence The guidance, material goods, and care provided by God that is sufficient to meet our
needs.
reason and science The explanation is that the earth has limited resources.
right to life The most fundamental human right.
social doctrine The body of teaching by the Church on economic and social matters that includes
moral judgments and demands for action in favor of those being harmed.
stealing Laziness at work and tax fraud are examples.
stewards At the beginning of Genesis, God calls Adam and his descendants to be this of the earth.
work of justice Laboring to change the structures of society that keep people hungry or poor or
motivate them to not commit crimes is called this.
social justice principals
Call to family, community and participation - We are social beings made for each other.
common good - Social conditions that help us reach our full human potential / That which enables
human beings to be their best.
human dignity - Respect due us because we are made in God’s image and likeness.
Preferential option for poor and vulnerable - Responds to the least in our midst
respect life - Respect that is from "the womb to the tomb".
rights & duties - The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy
community can be achieved only if these are protected and met.
solidarity Catholic social doctrine emphasizes the theme of _____, which is the principle that all
people are connected by an intricate web of life. We are our sisters and brothers’ keepers.
stewardship - Responsible care for God’s creation
work & workers - Fair wages and union participation
Review Questions
Q. Summarize the Old Law’s teaching on material possessions.
A. The Old Testament tells us that God gave the earth and all its resources to the whole human
race, and we are called to care for them as well as enjoy them. That does not mean private
property is discouraged; on the contrary, everyone needs certain material possessions to survive.
The Books of Exodus and Leviticus both recognize a right to personal possessions. And outside of
unusual circumstances, we cannot ever take someone else’s possessions without permission—to
do so is a sin against Commandments. But the right to private property is not absolute in the Old
Testament, which makes this right subordinate to the just distribution of the earth’s resources
and the common good. The Old Law teaches that God expects the earth’s resources to be fairly
distributed. (Art. 32, pp. 156–158)
Q. Why did Jesus Christ’s teachings on poverty and wealth shock the people of his
time?
A. The people of Jesus’ time were probably shocked by his teachings on poverty and wealth
because they commonly believed that wealth was a sign of God’s favor. In contrast, Jesus was
saying that we must detach from material wealth before we can enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
He explained that poverty is not a sign of God’s displeasure, that God has preferential concern
for those in poverty, that lust for wealth endangers our spiritual well-being, and that we are to
share wealth with others.(Art.32,p.158–160)
Q. Define the concept of social doctrine. (Article 33, p. 162, callout definition)
A. Social doctrine is the body of Church teaching on economic and social matters that includes
moral judgments and demands for action in favor of those being harmed.
Q. Choose two key principles of the social doctrine of the Church and explain their
significance.
A. (7 themes of social doctrine in Art 33)
•
Life and dignity of the human person
•
Call to family, community, and participation
•
Rights and responsibilities
•
The option for the poor and vulnerable
•
The dignity of work and the rights of workers
•
Solidarity
•
Care for God’s creation
Q. What responsibilities do employers have in regard to their workers?
A. Employers have several responsibilities to their workers. They must ensure that
manufacturing processes do not harm their workers. They must provide employees with fair
wages and benefits and must avoid discrimination in hiring practices. Responsible employers
must not ask employees to engage in immoral or illegal activities.(Art34,p.168)
Q. What responsibilities do rich nations have toward poor nations according to the
social doctrine of the Church?
A. Rich nations have a responsibility not to exploit poor nations. Some ways of exploiting poor
nations include arranging high interest loans, supporting corrupt governments, selling weapons
to oppressive governments, or buying goods from companies that treat their workers unjustly.
Instead, nations have a responsibility to help each other develop fair economic and social
systems. (Article 34, pp. 171–172)
Q. Why does envy or greed leave us feeling sad and dissatisfied?
A. Envy is a type of resentment or sadness over someone else’s good fortune. Related to envy is
greed: the desire to accumulate earthly goods beyond what we need to live. Both can cause us
to stop being satisfied with what we have and instead to focus on what we don’t have—or to feel
sad when we discover that someone else has something we want.(Art.35,pp.172–173)
Q. What are some ways that you can combat envy and greed?
A. We can strive to replace envy and greed with virtues of goodwill toward others (desiring that
their needs are met), personal humility (realizing that we are not more important than others
and that God already loves and blesses us completely), and trust in God’s providence (instead of
fear that God will not provide us with enough of what we need). (Article 35, pp. 174–175)
Q. How did Christ provide us with an example of living simply, and how does he call
us to do likewise?
A. Christ’s life and teaching promoted poverty of heart: the recognition of our deep need for God
and the commitment to put God above everything else in life, especially above material wealth.
Jesus taught us that poverty of heart is necessary for us to be in communion with God. During
his active ministry, he never owned anything but the clothes he was wearing, instead
depending entirely on the generosity of others to finance his work. He called his followers to
imitate his example by detaching from material wealth, giving away their possessions to follow
him. He calls us today to find ways to imitate his simple way of living by reducing our need for
material goods and perhaps by giving to charity instead. (Article 36, pp. 177–179)
Q. Besides taking someone’s property without permission, what else is covered under the
Seventh Commandment?
A: Answers might include that the Commandment includes borrowing someone’s property and not
giving it back, finding a lost object and not returning it to its owner, willfully destroying someone’s
property, following dishonest business practices, breaking a personal or business contract, or paying
unjust wages to your employees.
Q. What is involved in the social doctrine regarding work and workers?
A: Answers might include that first, economies exist to serve people, people do not exist to serve
economies. All people have a right to dignified work by which they can contribute to society and
support themselves and their families. Workers have the right to fair wages, the right to organize and
join labor unions, and the right to take economic initiatives to start new businesses and industries.
Q. In many parables, Jesus makes clear four things about poverty and wealth.
A: The following are Jesus’ ideas about poverty and wealth: (1) poverty is not a sign that God is
displeased with someone. In fact, Jesus says “blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3); (2) God
has a preferential concern for those who experience poverty. He is constantly encouraging people to
give to the poor; (3) lust for wealth is a danger to our spiritual welfare. It causes us to trust in money
and material possessions for happiness rather than in God; (4) wealth is to be shared with others,
especially those in need. This is constantly advocated by Jesus.
Q. What are three responsibilities companies and employers have in light of the Seventh
Commandment?
A: Answers might include that first, they have the responsibility to make sure the goods and services
they provide contribute to the good of society and not to its harm. Second, they must be sure that
their manufacturing processes do not harm the workers or the environment. Third, they have the
responsibility to provide their workers with a fair and just wage and benefits. Fourth, they must not
practice discrimination in their hiring practices. Last, they must not ask their employees to do
anything immoral or illegal.
Q. In the document on the environment, called Renewing the Earth . . . Social Teaching
(1991), the Church addressed five groups, encouraging each one to work toward
protecting the environment. Name three of these groups and what the Church asked
them to do.
A: Answers might include that the groups were as follows: (1) scientists, environmentalists,
economists—to continue to help us understand the challenges we face and the steps we need to
take; (2) teachers and educators—to emphasize, in their classrooms and curricula, a love for God’s
creation, a respect for nature, and a commitment to make positive practices part of the daily lives of
their students and themselves; (3) parents—from them children will learn love of the earth and
delight in nature. At home the children will develop habits of self-control, concern, and care; (4)
members of our Church—to examine our lifestyles and policies to see how we are at fault and might
improve; (5) citizens—we need to use our voices and votes to shape a nation more committed to the
universal common good.
Q. How is choosing voluntary poverty or living a simple lifestyle a challenging and
complex topic?
A: First, God does not call every Christian to a vow of poverty, especially the radical poverty of Jesus.
Second, people will have different definitions of what a simple lifestyle is depending on their country,
culture, and their current economic status. Third, people’s situations may limit their economic choices;
this is especially true of teenagers.
Q. What do the Seventh and Tenth Commandments tell us about the role of material
possessions in our lives?
A.
We should not steal. We should not covet our neighbor’s goods. We need to put material
possessions in their proper perspective in our lives. We cannot serve two masters; we are not saved
from sin and death by what we own but through the grace of God. We must practice detachment
from material goods. No person should have wealth that exceeds his or her material needs while
others lack the material goods to sustain a life with dignity. Envy and greed allow possessions,
popularity, and power to take over the place God should have in our lives.
Q.What do Revelation and reason teach us about the right to private property?
A.
All families and individuals need certain material possessions to survive. They have a right to
own these things as private property. However, the right to private property is not absolute; it is
subordinate to the just distribution of the earth’s goods and the common good. Wealth is to be
shared with those in need. We cannot own as private property what others need to survive.
Q. Describe the two feet of social action (use two or three sentences for each “foot”).
A.
Through works of service or charity, we try to alleviate the needs of others. For example, in
practicing the corporal works of mercy, we might give food to the hungry, visit the imprisoned, clothe
the naked, or visit the sick. Through works of justice, we also help to alleviate these needs by
working to change unjust social structures. For example, we work to change social attitudes or
business and governmental policies that keep people hungry or poor. Works of justice are more long
term and complex to deal with. Both service and justice are necessary in our response to social
injustice.
Q. Give two modern examples of stealing: for example, ways of stealing that are only
possible because of the Internet and electronic devices.
A.
Plagiarism is copying someone else’s words or ideas without permission or without giving the
owner proper credit. Although this sin has been committed for centuries, today’s advancements in
technology make it a much easier sin to commit. Pirating or illegally obtaining digital recordings such
as music, video, or software is also a form of stealing.
Q. Name two virtues that strengthen us against the temptation to be greedy and envious.
A.
In practicing the virtue of goodwill, we wish what is best for another. We can practice this
virtue by praying for another person’s happiness, especially when we are feeling envy toward that
person. Envy is the belief that we deserve more; through the virtue of humility, we recognize that we
cannot earn God’s love and that material possessions are not a sign of God’s favor. Greed is a sign
that we do not trust in God; the virtue of trusting in God removes the fear that we will not have what
we require for our basic needs.
Contemporary social issues - each of the following points are addressed:

Catholic social doctrine themes related to the issue

specific examples of this issue in today’s society

suggestions for a just response to this issue by individuals and society
Labor - just treatment of workers 
dignity of work and rights of workers; rights and responsibilities; option for the poor; solidarity

people continue to be enslaved; poverty-level wages; forced prostitution; dangerous working
conditions

responsible actions and attitudes by workers; businesses paying workers a living wage; laws
to protect the rights of workers
Environment - environmental justice

care of creation; rights and responsibilities; solidarity

pollution; global warming; destruction of plant and animal species; overplanting

gather more information on how the environment is being harmed; educate others about
environmentally friendly practices; teach love for nature and creation; develop habits of a
simpler lifestyle; advocate for just uses of resources
International Issues - international justice

dignity of person; rights and responsibilities; option for the poor; solidarity

gap between rich and poor; the rich nations exploiting the poor nations; lack of resources;
corruption in government

become involved in initiatives to overcome poverty; advocate for just distribution of goods and
services; support nations that are helping one another with economic and social development
REVIEW
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods” addresses the sinful attitudes of envy and greed.
Because a human person is made up of both body and soul, the Church’s concern for people’s
material needs is as essential as her concern for their spiritual needs.
Both the Seventh and Tenth Commandments give witness to this moral truth: God gave the earth and
all its resources to the whole human race to care for and enjoy.
Greed is a sign that we really do not trust in God.
Marriage and family is the fundamental human community that forms the foundations of all other
social institutions.
The definition of personal humility is that God already loves us completely and blesses us, and that
there is nothing we can do to earn more of his love.
Today, the threat of ecological breakdown is teaching us the extent to which greed and selfishness
are contrary to the order of creation, an order characterized by mutual interdependence.
When Jesus says, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere
to rest his head” (Matthew 8:20), he is speaking about his lack of possessions.
When Jesus tells the rich young man that to have eternal life, he must sell what he has and give his
money to the poor, the young man goes away sad, for he has many possessions.
All people have a right to dignified work by which they can contribute to society and support
themselves and their families.
At the beginning of Genesis, God calls Adam and his descendants to be stewards of the earth.
Citizens are called to use our voices and votes to shape a nation more committed to the universal
common good.
Copying someone else’s words or ideas without permission is plagiarism.
Employers have the responsibility to make sure the goods and services they provide contribute to the
good of society and not to its harm.
Employers have the responsibility to provide their workers with a fair and just wage and benefits.
Employers must be sure that their manufacturing processes protect the workers or the environment.
Envy is a type of resentment or sadness over someone else’s good fortune.
God has a preferential concern for those who experience poverty.
Jesus calls us today to find ways to imitate his simple way of living by reducing our need for material
goods and perhaps by giving to charity instead.
Jesus taught us that poverty of heart is necessary for us to be in communion with God.
Jesus taught we must divest ourselves from material wealth before we can enter the Kingdom of
Heaven.
Laboring to change the structures of society that keep people hungry or poor or motivate them to
commit crimes is called the work of justice.
Lust for wealth is a danger to our spiritual welfare, wealth is to be shared with others, especially
those in need.
Mammon is an Aramaic word meaning wealth or property.
Nations have a responsibility to help each other develop fair economic and social systems.
Poverty is not a sign that God is displeased with someone.
Responsible employers will not ask employees to engage in immoral or illegal activities.
The body of teaching by the Church on economic and social matters that includes moral judgments
and demands for action in favor of those being harmed is social doctrine.
The Books of Exodus and Leviticus both recognize a right to personal possessions.
The Church calls the laity to take initiative in addressing the causes of poverty and to bring greater
justice to economic and political systems.
The church continues to give society moral guidance on issues of justice and peace.
The Jubilee Laws had Israelites, every fifty years, return land that had been bought and sold during
that time to the original families.
The most fundamental human right is the right to life.
The Old Law teaches that God expects the earth’s resources to be fairly distributed.
The Old Testament tells us God gave the earth and all its resources to the whole human race.
The passion for wealth and the power that comes from greed.
The people of Jesus’ time were probably shocked by his teachings on poverty and wealth because
they commonly believed that wealth was a sign of God’s favor.
To have goodwill toward others is to desire what is best for other people.
We should replace envy and greed and trust in God’s providence with goodwill toward others.
Workers have the right to fair wages, the right to organize and join labor unions, and the right to take
economic initiatives to start new businesses and industries.
Catholic social doctrine emphasizes the theme of solidarity, which is the principle that all people are
connected by an intricate web of life. We are our sisters and brothers’ keepers.
Fair wages and union participation are rights of work & workers.
Preferential option for poor and vulnerable responds to the least in our midst.
Respect due us because we are made in God’s image and likeness is human dignity.
Respect that is from "the womb to the tomb" is respect for life.
Responsible care for God’s creation is called stewardship.
Social conditions that help us reach our full human potential / That which enables human beings to
be their best is the common good.
The body of teaching by the Church on economic and social matters that includes moral judgments
and demands for action in favor of those being harmed is social doctrine.
The Call to family, community and participation says we are social beings made for each other.
The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be
achieved only if our rights & duties are protected and met.