A Brief Catechism for Adulst - Lesson 41: The Eighth Commandment

OLRL ^ | Fr. William J. Cogan

[NYer]

Lesson 41: The Eighth Commandment

"And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.  The tongue is placed among our members, which defileth the whole body, and inflameth the wheel of our nativity, being set on fire by hell.  For every nature of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of the rest, is tamed, and hath been tamed, by the nature of man:  But the tongue no man can tame, an unquiet evil, full of deadly poison.  By it we bless God and the Father:  and by it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God.  Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not so to be."  (James 3:6-10)

1. What is the Eighth Commandment?
      Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

• What does the Eighth Commandment oblige you to do?
     To use the power of speech according to God's plan, that is, always to tell the truth.

• Name some of the sins against the Eighth Commandment.
  1. Lying
  2. Not keeping secrets
  3. Hurting someone's reputation
  4. Making known the sins of others
  5. Unjust criticism
  6. Judging another without sufficient evidence
  7. Gossip
  8. Suspecting another without sufficient evidence
  9. Insults
  10. Perjury

• What kind of sin is it to tell a lie?
     A mortal sin if it harms someone seriously; otherwise, it is venial.

• Are you ever allowed to tell a lie?
     No, not even a small one, not even to save someone's life or reputation.

  "Wherefore putting away lying, speak ye the truth every man with his neighbor; for we are members one of another."    (Ephesians 4:25)

• What must you do if you have told lies about another?
     You have to do everything you can to restore his good name and make up any losses he suffered because of your lies.

• Is is a sin to make known the hidden sins of another?
     Yes, unless someone else would suffer harm; in such a case you are obliged to tell the proper authorities.

• Is it a sin to listen to gossip?
     Yes, because you are co-operating in another's sin.

  It is a duty of charity to defend the reputation of another when it is being attacked.

• Is perjury a sin?
     Telling a lie after swearing to God to tell the truth is always a mortal sin.

  "A false witness shall not be unpunished:  and he that speaketh lies, shall perish."    (Proverbs 19:9)

[NYer]

God does answer prayers!

[LiteKeeper]

Where is a “mortal sin” defined? In other words, by what authority are sins classified as such?

[Salvation]

**Name some of the sins against the Eighth Commandment.
Lying
Not keeping secrets
Hurting someone’s reputation
Making known the sins of others
Unjust criticism
Judging another without sufficient evidence
Gossip
Suspecting another without sufficient evidence
Insults
Perjury**

A great list!

[Salvation]

A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 1: Religion
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 2: The Bible and Tradition
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 3: God and the Holy Trinity
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 4: Prayer
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 5: Public Worship of God

A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 6: Angels and Devils
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 7: Human Beings and the Purpose of Life
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 8: Sanctifying Grace
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 9: Heaven
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 10: Mortal and Venial Sin

A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 11: Hell
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 12: Purgatory
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 13: Original Sin
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 14: Jesus Christ, Our Savior
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 15: Jesus Christ, True God and True Man

A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 16: The Catholic Church is the Only True Church
A Brieft Catechism for Adults - Lesson 17: Qualities of the Catholic Church
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 18: The Pope, the Vicar of Christ
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 19: The Seven Sacraments
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 20: The Sacrament of Baptism

A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 21: The Sacrament of Confirmation
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 22: The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion)
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 23: The Sacrifice of the Mass
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 24: The Sacrament of Penance (Confession)
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 25: How to go to Confession

A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 26: Indulgences
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 27: The Sacrament of Extreme Unction
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 28: The Sacrament of Holy Orders (Priesthood)
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 29: The Nature of Marriage
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 30: The Sins Against Marriage

A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 31: The Sacrament of Matrimony
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 32: How to have a Happy Marriage
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 33: Duties of Parents Toward Their Children
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 34: The First Commandment
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 35: The Second Commandment

A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 36: The Third Commandment
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 37: The Fourth Commandment
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 38: The Fifth Commandment (w / special prayer request)
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 39: The Sixth and Ninth Commandments
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 40: The Seventh and Tenth Commandments

A Brief Catechism for Adulst - Lesson 41: The Eighth Commandment

[NYer]

A great list!

Absolutely! I am beaming from ear to ear :-)

[NYer]

Where is a “mortal sin” defined? In other words, by what authority are sins classified as such?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines a mortal sin as follows:

"Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of God's law; it turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to him." (C.C.C. # 1855)

"Mortal sin, by attacking the vital principle within us - that is, charity - necessitates a new initiative of God's mercy and a conversion of heart which is normally accomplished within the setting of the Sacrament of Confession." (C.C.C. # 1856)

"Mortal sin is a radical possibility of human freedom, as is love itself.     It results in the loss of charity and the private of sanctifying grace, that is, of the state of grace.     If it is not redeemed by repentance of God's forgiveness, it causes exclusion to make choices for ever, with no turning back.     However, although we can judge that an act is in itself a grave offense, we must entrust judgment of persons to the justice and mercy of God." (C.C.C. # 1861)

"To choose deliberately - that is, both knowing it and willing it - something gravely contrary to the divine law and to the ultimate end of man is to commit a mortal sin.     This destroys in us the charity without which eternal beatitude is impossible.     Unrepented, it brings eternal death." (C.C.C. # 1874)

In simple terms for a sin to be mortal, the individual must know it is a mortal sin and agree to do it anyway. Does that answer your question?

[LiteKeeper]

Is there is any Scriptural-support for this classification? And, are there sins of a different character?

[Salvation]

A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 42: Charity
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 43: Fast and Abstinence