3.1a When is it Stealing? Be Honest

Honesty is a virtue and is a necessary part of respect for God. is necessary to build a strong relationship with God and with people in God’s community.

When we are honest about property we respect that all of creation belongs to God. When we communicate in an honest way, we respect the truth which has its source in God. Unless we respect God’s truth, we will be unable to tell the difference between good and evil.

Deuteronomy 14:22 tells the Israelites to set aside a full tithe (10% of all they produce) for God and in celebration of God. It was to be used for worship, to support widows and orphans, to support priests and Levites, and all other charity. The sixth precept asks us to give to the church. The funds collected in the offertory at mass are used for those same purposes.

We cannot be faithful to God unless we share what we have with God’s people. When we give to the Church and share our resources and talents with those in need, we are offering a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God. We are called to give back to God some of everything that we have - including possessions and physical or mental abilities.

The Seventh Commandment “Thou shall not steal.” It forbids us to unjustly take or keep our neighbours’ goods or to wrong our neighbours in any way to do with their goods. It also demands that we give to others all that is due to them.

We believe in the right to property; however property must always be used for the common good. All people have a right to get what they need to survive. People’s basic needs always come first. When we own things, we are merely stewards. We must use these things to benefit us and others for the common good.