The Fifth Commandment

"Thou shalt not kill"

COMPENDIUM

This Commandment forbids killing, beating, striking, or doing any other bodily harm to our neighbor, either by our own act or through the acts of others, as, for instance, giving offence by insulting words, or wishing evil to anyone. The Commandment also forbids killing oneself, i.e. suicide.

Killing our neighbor is a very grave sin, because the murderer rashly usurps the prerogative which God alone possesses over man's life; and because the slayer destroys the security of human society, and, in taking away his neighbor's life, he deprives him of the greatest natural good which he possesses in the world. It is, however, lawful to kill ones neighbor when fighting in a just war, and when executing a death sentence pronounced by lawful authority in punishment of some crime, and, lastly, when defending one's life by indispensable and just means against an unjust attack.

Further, the Fifth Commandment forbids even injuries to the spiritual life of one's neighbor by giving scandal. Scandal is doing, saying, or omitting to do anything which is to others an occasion of sin. It is a grave sin, because it tends to destroy God's noblest work, which is redemption, by losing souls; it causes the death of the soul by depriving it of the life of grace, which is far more valuable than the life of the body; and it is the cause of a multitude of sins; and therefore, God threatens the giver of scandal with the severest penalties.

This Commandment forbids suicide, because man is not the master of his own life, nor of anyone else's life. Hence, the Church punishes the suicide by depriving him of ecclesiastical burial.

Dueling is also forbidden by this Commandment, because dueling partakes of the malice of suicide and of homicide, and therefore whoever voluntarily takes part in a duel, even though it be as a spectator only, is excommunicated. Even when there is no danger of death, but only of intentional blows and wounds mutually attempted or given, dueling remains forbidden; nor can honor be pleaded as an excuse, because there is no true satisfaction to the requirements of wounded honor in an unjust, irrational, and barbarous act, such as dueling.

On the other hand, this Commandment bids us to forgive our enemies and to wish well to all men.

Lastly, it does not suffice for a person who has wronged his neighbor to make a confession, but he must also repair the wrong he has done by making good any injuries or losses he has caused, by withdrawing any erroneous information he has spread, and by giving a good example.

CATECHISM

411. What does the Fifth Commandment, Thou shalt not kill, forbid?

The Fifth Commandment, Thou shalt not kill, forbids us to kill, strike, wound or do any other bodily harm to our neighbor, either of ourselves or by the agency of others; as also to wish him evil, or to offend him by injurious language. In this Commandment, God also forbids the taking of one's own life, or suicide.

412. Why is it a grave sin to kill one's neighbor?

Because the slayer unjustly invades the right which God alone has over the life of man; because he destroys the security of civil society; and because he deprives his neighbor of life, which is the greatest natural good on earth.

413. Are there cases in which it is lawful to kill?

It is lawful to kill when fighting in a just war; when carrying out by order of the supreme authority a sentence of death in punishment of a crime; and, finally, in cases of necessary and lawful defense of one's own life against an unjust aggressor.

414. Does God also forbid us in the Fifth Commandment to do harm to the spiritual life of another?

Yes, in the Fifth Commandment God also forbids us to do harm to another's spiritual life by scandal.

415. What is scandal?

Scandal is any word, act, or omission which is the occasion of another's committing sin.

416. Is scandal a grave sin?

Scandal is a grave sin, because, by causing the loss of souls, it tends to destroy the greatest work of God, namely, the redemption; it effects the death of another's soul by depriving it of the life of grace, which is more precious than the life of the body; and is the source of a multitude of sins. Hence, God threatens the severest chastisement to those who give scandal.

417. Why does God, in the Fifth Commandment, forbid the taking of one's own life, or suicide?

In the Fifth Commandment God forbids suicide, because man is not the master of his own life no more than of the life of another. Hence, the Church punishes suicide by deprivation of Christian burial.

418. Is dueling also forbidden by the Fifth Commandment?

Yes, dueling is also forbidden by the Fifth Commandment, because dueling has in it the guilt both of suicide and of homicide; and whoever voluntarily takes part in it, even as a simple onlooker, is excommunicated.

419. Is dueling also forbidden when there is no danger of being killed?

The sort of dueling wherein there is no danger of being killed is also forbidden, because not only are we forbidden to kill, but even voluntarily to wound ourselves or others.

420. Is the defense of one's honor an excuse for dueling?

No, because it is not true that the offence is repaired by dueling; and because honor cannot be repaired by an unjust, irrational and barbarous act such as dueling.

421. What does the Fifth Commandment command?

The Fifth Commandment commands us to forgive our enemies and to wish well to all.

422. What should he do who has injured another in the life of either body or soul?

He who has injured another must not only confess his sin, but must also repair the harm by compensating his neighbor for the loss he has sustained, by retracting the errors taught, and by giving good example.