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 TOPIC 33.1
THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT (pt. 1)
The Right to Private Property

References: COMPENDIUM OF THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, qq . 503-508;

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, nos. 2401-2418

Supplementary reading: https://opusdei.org/en/article/t opic-33-the-seventh-and-eighth-commandments/

 THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT

You shall not steal

encompasses all the rights and duties The right to private property When does the right
of man regarding the care and use – the right of dominion man has to private property exist?
of the material world over the property he lawfully owns

Sins against commutative justice

Virtues directly related to the use Sins against the 7th Commandment:
require reparation and restitution
and care of material goods irresponsibility in using one’s property
of damages
 The 7th Commandment
“You shall not steal” (Ex 20:15)
encompasses all the rights and duties
of man regarding the care and use
of the material world

Biblical foundation: the Genesis account of creation:

◦ God created the entire visible universe for man

Gen 1:1-27

◦ then placed it under man’s dominion

Gen 1:28-31

◦ that man might make use of it to grow in love of God

and of his fellowmen
Gen 2:1-3
 The Right
to Private Property
the right of dominion man has
over the property he lawfully owns

◦ “dominion”
the power to use and dispose of property
as one sees fit
◦ basis of man’s right to private property:
man’s personhood
◦ man has been created intelligent and free

◦ he has the right to freely and responsibly

make decisions about how to meet his own needs and the needs
of those under his care,
and those of others in need

◦ respect for the right to private property

 When does the right
to private property exist?
The right to private property exists provided:
◦ the property is acquired or received in a just way; and
◦ the universal destination of material goods
for the satisfaction of the basic needs of all takes precedence

◦ “The goods of creation are destined for the whole human race.”
CCC 2402

◦ “Not to enable the poor to share in our goods

is to steal from them and deprive them of life.”
St. John Chrysostom

◦ “When we attend to the needs of those in want, we give them

what is theirs, not ours. More than performing works of mercy,
we are paying a debt of justice.”
St. Gregory the Great
Cf. CCC 2446

◦ “Private property has a social mortgage.”

St. John Paul II

◦ Man must see himself as a real “steward of Providence, obliged to employ

the goods of production he may possess in ways that will benefit
the greatest number”
cf. CCC 2404-2405

Note:
what applies to privately-owned goods also applies to the wealth of nations.
 When does the right
to private property exist?
Richer Nations have the moral obligation to promote not only their own wellbeing
but also that of the Poorer Nations
Cf. CCC 2440

◦ making development capital available at very reasonable interest rates

◦ extending technical and financial assistance in a particular way

to those working in the agricultural sector, especially in the Third World

◦ providing direct aid to meet immediate and extraordinary needs

brought about by natural catastrophes

The same applies to respecting ecology and the integrity of creation

CCC 2415

◦ God created the world’s resources for all men of all generations

◦ public and private groups need to respect the inherent laws and cycles of nature
to ensure the availability of natural resources for future generations
and to provide for the environmental safety of the population
 Virtues directly related
to the use and care of material goods

TEMPERANCE JUSTICE CHARITY SOLIDARITY

• due moderation
in using material goods
• need to learn to be content
with what is necessary
to live a simple and sober life.
St. Teresa of Avila.
St. Josemaria Escriva.
• giving the other what is his due
• justice is the “first step”
in order to live charity
Benedict XVI
• giving those in need of what is ours
• charity without justice
is mere sentimentality;
justice without charity is cruelty.
St. Thomas Aquinas
• the firm & persevering determination to
commit oneself
to the common good
• solidarity must be lived especially
with those who suffer in any way
from spiritual and material deprivation.
• there is a greater obligation
to extend help to others
the greater others
have need of one’s help.

• it would be a sin of omission

to neglect this duty.
 Virtues directly related
to the use and care of material goods

The separation of the sheep Parable of the rich man

Parable of the Good Samaritan
& the goats at the Last Judgment and Lazarus
Lk 10:29-37
Mt. 245:34 Lk 16:19-31
 Sins against the 7th Commandment:
irresponsibility in using one’s property

participating in games of chance

or wagers when this deprives one
spending out of pride, neglect taking good care of what is necessary to provide
vanity, luxury, of our material goods, for his needs or those of others.
an excessive love resulting in unnecessary
Danger of addiction to gambling
of comfort, or laziness. waste or spoilage and giving bad example to others.
Cf. CCC 2413

the “throw-away culture”

Pope Francis
 Sins against commutative justice
require reparation and restitution of damages

 restitution must be made as soon as possible

 theft – taking or using another’s property  willfully damaging private or public property
against the reasonable will of the owner

 usury  the guilty party has the strict obligation to restore

 paying unjust wages
 speculation on the value of goods
in order to gain an advantage
to the detriment of others
 forgery of checks or invoices
 corruption
 the private abuse of common goods
 work deliberately done poorly
the object to its rightful owner
– either to the one who suffered the injury or,
if he has died, to his rightful heirs
 if the owner or his rightful heirs cannot be found,
the money must be given to the poor, to the Church,
or to some charitable organization

 tax evasion  not paying debts  sins against commutative justice cannot be forgiven
and fulfilling obligations freely contracted unless one has made restitution,
or at least has the firm resolution to do so.
 business fraud
Jesus blesses Zacchaeus for his
pledge:

“If I have defrauded

anyone of anything,
I restore it fourfold”
Lk 19:8
 TOPIC 33.1
THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT (pt. 1)
The Right to Private Property

References: COMPENDIUM OF THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, qq . 503-508;

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, nos. 2401-2418

Supplementary reading: https://opusdei.org/en/article/t opic-33-the-seventh-and-eighth-commandments/