Catechism index

2251 IN BRIEF Children owe their parents respect, gratitude, just obedience, and assistance. Filial respect fosters harmony in all of family life.
2252 IN BRIEF Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children in the faith, prayer, and all the virtues. They have the duty to provide as far as possible for the physical …
2253 IN BRIEF Parents should respect and encourage their children's vocations. They should remember and teach that the first calling of the Christian is to follow Jesus.
2254 IN BRIEF Public authority is obliged to respect the fundamental rights of the human person and the conditions for the exercise of his freedom.
2255 IN BRIEF It is the duty of citizens to work with civil authority for building up society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom.
2256 IN BRIEF Citizens are obliged in conscience not to follow the directives of civil authorities when they are contrary to the demands of the moral order. "We must obey God rather than men" (Acts …
2257 IN BRIEF Every society's judgments and conduct reflect a vision of man and his destiny. Without the light the Gospel sheds on God and man, societies easily become totalitarian. Previous - Next Copyright © …
2258 You shall not kill. 54 You have heard that it was said to the men of old, "You shall not kill: and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment." But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment. 55 "Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains for ever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. …
2259 I. Respect for Human Life In the account of Abel's murder by his brother Cain, 57 Scripture reveals the presence of anger and envy in man, consequences of original sin, from the beginning of human history. Man …
2260 I. Respect for Human Life The covenant between God and mankind is interwoven with reminders of God's gift of human life and man's murderous violence:
2261 The Old Testament always considered blood a sacred sign of life. 60 This teaching remains necessary for all time. Scripture specifies the prohibition contained in the fifth commandment: "Do not slay the innocent and the righteous." 61 The deliberate murder of an innocent person is gravely contrary to the dignity of …
2262 The Old Testament always considered blood a sacred sign of life. 60 This teaching remains necessary for all time. In the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord recalls the commandment, "You shall not kill," 62 and adds to it the proscription of anger, hatred, and vengeance. Going further, Christ asks his …
2263 The Old Testament always considered blood a sacred sign of life. 60 This teaching remains necessary for all time. The legitimate defense of persons and societies is not an exception to the prohibition against the murder of the innocent that constitutes intentional killing. "The act of self-defense can have a double …
2264 The Old Testament always considered blood a sacred sign of life. 60 This teaching remains necessary for all time. Love toward oneself remains a fundamental principle of morality. Therefore it is legitimate to insist on respect for one's own right to life. Someone who defends his life is not guilty of …
2265 The Old Testament always considered blood a sacred sign of life. 60 This teaching remains necessary for all time. Legitimate defense can be not only a right but a grave duty for someone responsible for another's life. Preserving the common good requires rendering the unjust aggressor unable to inflict harm. To …
2266 The Old Testament always considered blood a sacred sign of life. 60 This teaching remains necessary for all time. The State's effort to contain the spread of behaviors injurious to human rights and the fundamental rules of civil coexistence corresponds to the requirement of watching over the common good. Legitimate public …
2267 The Old Testament always considered blood a sacred sign of life. 60 This teaching remains necessary for all time. Recourse to the death penalty on the part of legitimate authority, following a fair trial, was long considered an appropriate response to the gravity of certain crimes and an acceptable, albeit extreme, …
2268 The Old Testament always considered blood a sacred sign of life. 60 This teaching remains necessary for all time. The fifth commandment forbids direct and intentional killing as gravely sinful. the murderer and those who cooperate voluntarily in murder commit a sin that cries out to heaven for vengeance. 68
2269 Infanticide, 69 fratricide, parricide, and the murder of a spouse are especially grave crimes by reason of the natural bonds which they break. Concern for eugenics or public health cannot justify any murder, even if commanded by public authority. The fifth commandment forbids doing anything with the intention of indirectly bringing about a person's death. the moral law prohibits exposing someone to mortal danger without grave reason, as well as refusing …
2270 Infanticide, 69 fratricide, parricide, and the murder of a spouse are especially grave crimes by reason of the natural bonds which they break. Concern for eugenics or public health cannot justify any murder, even if commanded by public authority. Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception.