19
The Seventh Commandment
You shall not steal.
“The seventh commandment forbids unjustly taking or keeping the
goods of one’s neighbor and wronging him in a way with respect to his
goods. It commands justice and charity in the care of earthly goods and
the fruits of men’s labor. For the sake of the common good, it requires
respect for the universal destination of goods and respect for the right to
private property. Christian life strives to order this world’s goods to God
and to fraternal charity.” (CCC 2401)
As with all the commandments, the Catechism speaks of a wide range
of topics in the section on the seventh commandment, not just theft. Offenses
against the seventh commandment include “deliberate retention
of goods lent or of objects lost; business fraud; paying unjust wages;
forcing up prices by taking advantage of the ignorance or hardship of
another.” (CCC 2409)
It talks of the importance of keeping promises and honoring contracts
(CCC 2410) and “forbids acts or enterprises that for any reason…lead to
the enslavement of human beings.” (CCC 2414)
It is also in this section of the Catechism where the Social Doctrine of the
Church is laid out. It is lengthy and comprehensive, but may be summed
up in this: “Any system in which social relationships are determined entirely
by economic factors is contrary to the nature of the human person
and his acts.” (CCC 2423)
For further study:
CCC 2401-2463