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2511
IN BRIEF
"The sacramental seal is inviolable" (CIC, can. 983 # 1). Professional secrets must be kept. Confidences prejudicial to another are not to be divulged.
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2512
IN BRIEF
Society has a right to information based on truth, freedom, and justice. One should practice moderation and discipline in the use of the social communications media.
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2513
IN BRIEF
The fine arts, but above all sacred art, "of their nature are directed toward expressing in some way the infinite beauty of God in works made by human hands. Their dedication to …
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2514
You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or his ass, or anything that is your neighbor's. 298 Every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 299
St. John distinguishes three kinds of covetousness or concupiscence: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life. 300 In the Catholic catechetical tradition, the ninth commandment forbids carnal …
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2515
You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or his ass, or anything that is your neighbor's. 298 Every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 299
Etymologically, "concupiscence" can refer to any intense form of human desire. Christian theology has given it a particular meaning: the movement of the sensitive appetite contrary to the operation of the human …
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2516
You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or his ass, or anything that is your neighbor's. 298 Every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 299
Because man is a composite being, spirit and body, there already exists a certain tension in him; a certain struggle of tendencies between "spirit" and "flesh" develops. But in fact this struggle …
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2517
I. Purification of the Heart
The heart is the seat of moral personality: "Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication...." 304 The struggle against carnal covetousness entails purifying the heart and practicing temperance:
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2518
Remain simple and innocent, and you will be like little children who do not know the evil that destroys man's life. 305
The sixth beatitude proclaims, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." 306 "Pure in heart" refers to those who have attuned their intellects and wills to the demands …
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2519
The faithful must believe the articles of the Creed "so that by believing they may obey God, by obeying may live well, by living well may purify their hearts, and with pure hearts may understand what they believe." 310
The "pure in heart" are promised that they will see God face to face and be like him. 311 Purity of heart is the precondition of the vision of God. Even now …
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2520
II. The Battle for Purity
Baptism confers on its recipient the grace of purification from all sins. But the baptized must continue to struggle against concupiscence of the flesh and disordered desires. With God's grace he will …
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2521
II. The Battle for Purity
Purity requires modesty, an integral part of temperance. Modesty protects the intimate center of the person. It means refusing to unveil what should remain hidden. It is ordered to chastity to whose …
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2522
II. The Battle for Purity
Modesty protects the mystery of persons and their love. It encourages patience and moderation in loving relationships; it requires that the conditions for the definitive giving and commitment of man and woman …
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2523
II. The Battle for Purity
There is a modesty of the feelings as well as of the body. It protests, for example, against the voyeuristic explorations of the human body in certain advertisements, or against the solicitations …
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2524
II. The Battle for Purity
The forms taken by modesty vary from one culture to another. Everywhere, however, modesty exists as an intuition of the spiritual dignity proper to man. It is born with the awakening consciousness …
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2525
II. The Battle for Purity
Christian purity requires a purification of the social climate. It requires of the communications media that their presentations show concern for respect and restraint. Purity of heart brings freedom from widespread eroticism …
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2526
II. The Battle for Purity
So called moral permissiveness rests on an erroneous conception of human freedom; the necessary precondition for the development of true freedom is to let oneself be educated in the moral law. Those …
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2527
II. The Battle for Purity
"The Good News of Christ continually renews the life and culture of fallen man; it combats and removes the error and evil which flow from the ever-present attraction of sin. It never …
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2528
IN BRIEF
"Everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Mt 5:28).
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2529
IN BRIEF
The ninth commandment warns against lust or carnal concupiscence.
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2530
IN BRIEF
The struggle against carnal lust involves purifying the heart and practicing temperance.
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