Source: Captivated by Your Teachings: a Resource Book for Adult Maronite
Catholics,
by Father Anthony J. Salim
5. You shall not murder. (NRSV)
The Church has traditionally restricted to the
absolute minimum the instances when life may be taken: legitimate defense of
self and of society. Recently, John Paul II has stated that the circumstances
under which the State may take a life in capital punishment are “...very rare,
if non-existent.” The other arena in which killing was more traditionally seen
as permitted but that is seriously questioned today by the Church is war and
the so-called just war theory. Nuclear holocaust, made possible by the
unchecked arms race, as well as the technologizing of the means of war, render
medieval images of hand-to-hand combat ludicrous and unconscionable. In the
words of the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
Because of the evils
and injustices that all war brings with it, we must do everything reasonably
possible to avoid it (CCC 2327).The Church and human reason assert the
permanent validity of the moral law during armed conflicts. Practices
deliberately contrary to the law of nations and to its universal principles are
crimes (CCC 2328).The arms race is one of the greatest curses on the
human race and the harm it inflicts on the poor is more than can be endured (CCC
2329).
No
matter how it is rationalized, abortion remains in the Church’s teaching an act
of murder against defenseless life. This crime against life carries with it a
penalty of excommunication. In vitro fertilization is not permitted by
the Church because in the process of fertilizing the eggs in a petri dish, more
than one egg successfully treated become zygotes and capable of growing into
viable embryos. Hence, when they are discarded human life is too. Biogenetics
is a new and largely uncontrolled area. While scientists possess an increasing
capability for good through better technology, the question still remains: how
is this to be monitored and by what moral and ethical standards?
Euthanasia
is often whitewashed as “mercy-killing”; it is prohibited here as is suicide
“with the intention of setting an example” (CCC 2282). However, in very
many cases, other circumstances—such as psychological or emotional—come into
play.
This
commandment also forbids the abuse of the body, mind and spirit and safety.
Included are abuses of alcohol and drugs. The public sector has finally caught
up to the moral wisdom of avoiding smoking, which has been proven to harm one’s
own health and the health of others (in secondary smoke). Any reckless,
irresponsible behavior is forbidden as contrary to the service of life.
Since
the opposite of death is life, we recognize here that the Catholic Church is a
Church which respects life, from beginning to end, in the words of the late
Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, a “seamless garment.”
Here
we must also consider non-physical violence as well. Thus anything which
degrades or diminishes the dignity of another is forbidden. This includes
prejudice of any sort, notably, racism and sexism. Scandal, which leads another
to do evil, is also forbidden. In short, any kind of violence is forbidden by
the 5th Commandment.
As
usual, Jesus pushes the point to its extreme, to an ideal that always
challenges:
You have heard that it
was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, Do not
resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the
other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak
as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give
to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow
from you. You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and
hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he
makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous
and on the unrighteous (Mt 5:38-45). He also said: “Blessed are the
peacemakers, for they shall see God.”
6. You shall not commit adultery.
Adultery violates the trust that stands at the heart
of the marriage commitment. When this Commandment was given, it was to protect
the sacredness of family life, which included the love and respect spouses were
to have for one another. When one of the parties committing adultery is
married, it is bad; if both are married (not to each other), it is double
jeopardy. Divorce is forbidden, because by it the bond between spouses and society’s
bonds of family life are broken. Pre- and extra-marital sexual relations,
however sincere, do not express the full commitment called for by truly
Christian marriage. Of particular concern is the growing acceptance of
unmarried Christian people cohabitating. It is widely but wrongly assumed today
that engaged persons may live together and carry on an active sexual life
without sin. It is claimed that doing so enables people to get to know each
other better and thus the couple will have a better marriage. The realities
point to the opposite. Couples often break up bitterly when they really learn
truths about themselves that they don’t like; yet the emotional scars of
undisciplined sex remain. In addition, cohabitating sends the wrong message to
the very young that promiscuity is acceptable. The Church teaches that the gift
of sex is to be used within the context of a committed, Christian marriage; and
anything outside of that context is forbidden. This includes: fornication,
masturbation, polygamy, the use of pornography, prostitution, rape (actually a
sin of violence), incest and any abuse by adults perpetrated on children. While
the Church condemns the use of artificial contraception, including
sterilization and vasectomy, it does not prohibit the regulation of procreation
by natural methods, such as natural family planning. The reliability of natural
family planning methods has improved greatly. Considered under this Commandment
are the virtues of chastity and temperance, which help us to control our strong
sexual drives toward improper use of them and towards impurity. By this
Commandment Christians are urged to use modesty, patience and discretion in
dress and speech, for modesty protects the person’s intimate center (CCC 2533).
The parable
of the Prodigal Son calls us all to a deeper conversion. Mother Marla Marie was able to assist the
retreat participants in applying the parable to their own personal spiritual
journey. How many of us go to Church every Sunday because we are “simply doing
the right thing” or “fulfilling our obligations”, but not really experiencing
the tender embrace and mercy of our heavenly Father? 
“The Sisters’ presentation opened up more
dialogue among the Lebanese and non-Lebanese attendees which led to sharing
questions and answers among the participants”. -Joe Rowden
