Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on 5th Sunday of Lent.
My dear Parishioners,
Peace! There are fourteen (14) “In Brief” articles in the Catechism of the Catholic Church addressing the Seventh Commandment of the Decalogue, ‘You shall not steal.’ The following is a reflection on CCC 2450.
The Catechism begins it’s summary of the Seventh Commandment by citing two passages of Sacred Scripture: “You shall not steal (Deuteronomy 5:19. Neither thieves nor misers (…) Nor robbers will inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:10).”
The Seventh Commandment, ‘You shall not steal’ is a divine protection of property rights. In order for something to be “stolen” the presupposition is that the thing that was stolen actually belonged to the person who was robbed. There are many virtues linked to the Seventh Commandment, for example justice, diligence, and generosity. Justice is a part of the Seventh Commandment insofar as the one who would steal from another is not giving the neighbor what is due, namely respect for private property. Diligence is a part of the Seventh Commandment insofar as the private property which a thief might steal is the fruit of the hard, honest work of the one who might be robbed. Generosity is a part of the Seventh Commandment insofar as one who has worked hard and received the fruits of such labors may then share with others.
Property rights as enshrined in the Seventh Commandment, ‘You shall not steal,’ are also the basis of the “Free Market.” The free market is based upon the free exchange of goods (property) and services. “Goods” refers generally to things, commodities, material. “Services” refers generally to labor, physical or otherwise. Leo XIII pointed out that “those who lack resources supply labor” (cf. Rerum Novarum, 8–9).
Without the Seventh Commandment, ‘You shall not steal,’ the law of the jungle would take over, where the strong and mighty will take what they want, by force if necessary. Respect for property rights actually defends the weak from the strong, forbidding coercion, theft and the like. Both individualism and collectivism miss the mark when considering economic matters. Pius XI pointed out that to respect property rights as enshrined in the Seventh Commandment is not a “pagan concept” nor an innovation of moderns but part of the “certain and definite order” of nature serving the purposes of the Creator (cf. Quadragesimo Anno, 45–46). John Paul II, for his part, points out that there is a tension which exists between two principles, that of the validity of private property and that of the “universal destination of material goods” (cf. Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 42). The foundation of the right to private initiative and ownership is the use of our intelligence and freedom by which we are able to fulfill ourselves. We work in order to provide for the needs of our families, our community, our nation and ultimately all humanity (cf. Centesimus Annus, 43).
Let us be diligent in work and generous in giving, taking care of what we have and keep God’s Commandments.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr