On the Eighth Commandment.

592. What is forbidden by the eighth commandment? To steal , or in any way appropriate to ourselves that which belongs to another.

593. What particular sins are forbidden thereby? The chief are-- 1. Robbery , or the taking of any thing that belongs to another openly, by force. 2. Theft , or taking what belongs to another privily. 3. Fraud , or appropriating to ourselves any thing that is another's by artifice; as when men pass off counterfeit money for true, or bad wares for good; or use false weights and measures, to give less than they have sold; or conceal their effects to avoid paying their debts; or do not honestly fulfill contracts, or execute wills; when they screen others guilty of dishonesty, and so defraud the injured of justice. 4. Sacrilege , or appropriating to ourselves what has been dedicated to God, or belongs to the Church. 5. Spiritual sacrilege ; 3 when one sinfully gives and another fraudulently obtains any sacred office, not of desert, but for gain. 6. Bribery; when men receive a bribe from those under them in office or jurisdiction, and for gain promote the unworthy, acquit the guilty, or oppress the innocent. 7. Eating the bread of idleness; when men receive salary for duty, or pay for work, which they neglect, and so in fact steal both their pay and that profit which society, or he whom they served, should have had of their labor; in like manner when they who are able to support themselves by work, instead of so doing live upon alms. 8. Extortion; when, under the show of some right, but really against equity and humanity, men make their own advantage of the property, the labors, or even the misfortunes of others; as when creditors oppress their debtors by usury; when masters wear out their dependents by excessive imposts or tasks; when in time of famine men sell bread at an exorbitant price.

594. When these sins are forbidden, what contrary virtues are thereby enjoined? Those of--1. Disinterestedness; 2. Good faith in performing engagements; 3. Justice; 4. Mercy to the poor.

595. Does he, then, who is not merciful to the poor sin against the eighth commandment? Certainly he does, if he have the means of assisting them; for all that we have belongs properly to God, and our abundance is given us by his Providence for the assistance of the poor; wherefore, if we do not impart to them of our abundance, we do in fact thereby rob and defraud them of their right, and the gift of God.

596. Is there not yet a higher virtue contrary to sins against the eighth commandment? Such a virtue is absolute poverty , or the renunciation of all property; which is proposed by the Gospel not as a duty for all, but as a counsel for them that would be perfect. If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor; and thou shalt hare treasure in heaven. Matt. xix. 21 .