What is the sixth Commandment?
Thou shalt not commit murder. [Deut. 5:17 Brenton's LXX; cf. Thou shalt not kill. Exodus 20:15 Brenton's LXX]
How is this Commandment to be understood?
This Commandment teaches us, that man-slaying is by no means to be committed by a righteous Man, who fears God; whether is be a killing of the body, or of the soul. Those who kill the body, do only take away a temporary life; but those who kill the soul, deprive it of eternal life; and these are, by far, the most criminal man-slayers. Of this sort are heretics, false teachers, and wicked and reprobate Christians, who set an example of evil living; that is, when they become stumbling blocks unto others. Concerning who the Scripture judges thus, But whosoever shall cause one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be to his advantage that a millstone turned by an ass were hung upon his neck, and he were drowned in the deep of the sea. [Mt. 18:6 ONT] Furthermore, a person may be guilty of killing, not only by his own act, but, also, by persuading of another to do it; by assisting, instigating, and consenting to others. This Commandment also covers all whatsoever may produce or cause killing, such as pride, envy, hatred, covetousness, and the like.
Q. What does God forbid in the sixth Commandment?
A. Killing is thereby expressly forbidden, and all the species and degrees thereof are therein implied.
Q. What is meant by this word kill?
A.
1. All kind of killing, as killing a man with a weapon, strangling, drowning, or poisoning, and many other ways and methods of taking away the life of anther man.
2. He that doth any ways contribute designedly to take away his neighbor's life, as breaking a hole in the ice, over which a man is to pass in the night; or setting his neighbor's house on fire, etc. And in this class of murderers, are all rebels and traitors, who contribute to bring the sword of war into their own country; as all those, who give or accept challenges to fight duels, are to be accounted transgressors of this Commandment.
3. Those who will force men to work or drink more than their strength is able to bear; and in a word, all those who contribute to throw others into any excess of anger or sadness, or any other particular passion, destructive of man's health, do violate this Commandment.
Q. Are soldiers and judges to be reputed transgressors of this Commandment, when they put any man to death?
A. No. For judges do but execute the power entrusted to them by God; neither do soldiers transgress this Commandment, when they kill the enemy; for they do but comply with their duty, when, in defense of their country, and in obedience to their sovereign, they do kill their enemies; but it is the duty of princes, to see that the war be undertaken for just and substantial reasons.
Q. Is it a sin to lay violent hands on our selves?
A. Without doubt: For God, and not our selves, has power to dispose of our lives, and therefore we must expect death patiently, and not hasten it, and bring it willfully on our selves.
Q. What is forbidden by the sixth Commandment?
A. Murder; that is, taking away the life of our neighbor in any manner whatever.
Q. Is it in all cases murder, and against this Commandment, to kill?
A. No: it is not murder, nor against this commandment, when life is taken in the execution of duty; as, when a criminal is punished with death, by just judgment; or, again, when an enemy is killed in war, in defense of our sovereign and country.
Q. What is to be thought of involuntary homicide, when a man is killed accidentally and unintentionally?
A. The man who is guilty of involuntary homicide cannot be reckoned blameless, unless he took all proper precautions against the accident; at any rate, he needs to have his conscience cleansed according to the Canons of the Church.
Q. What cases must be reckoned as murder, and as breaches of this commandment?
A. Besides direct murder, by whatever means, the same sin may be committed in the following, and in similar cases:
1. When a judge condemns a prisoner, whom he knows to be innocent.
2. When any one conceals or sets free a murderer, and so gives him opportunity for fresh crime.
3. When any one can save his neighbor from death, but does not save him; as, when a rich man suffers a poor man to die of hunger.
4. When any one by excessive burdens and cruel punishments wears out those under him, and so hastens their death.
5. When any one through intemperance or other vices shortens his own life.
Q. What are we to think of suicide?
A. That it is the most criminal of all murders. For if it be contrary to nature to kill another man like unto ourselves, much more is it contrary to nature to kill our own selves. Our life is not our own, but God's, who gave it.
Q. What are we to think of duels, to decide private quarrels?
A. Since the decision of private quarrels belongs to government, while the duelist, instead of having recourse to law, willfully determines on an act which involves manifest danger of death both to himself and his opponent, it is evident that a duel implies three dreadful crimes; rebellion, murder, and suicide.
Q. Besides murder of the body, is there not such a thing as spiritual murder?
A. A kind of spiritual murder is the causing of offence; when any one causes his neighbor to fall into infidelity or into sin, and so subjects his soul to spiritual death. The Saviour says; But whosoever shall cause one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be to his advantage that a millstone turned by an ass were hung upon his neck, and he were drowned in the deep of the sea. [Mt. 18:6 ONT]
Q. Are there not still some more subtle forms of murder?
A. To this sin are more or less referable all acts and words against charity; all which unjustly affect the peace and security of our neighbor; and, lastly, all inward malice against him, even though it be not shown openly. Everyone who hateth his brother is a manslayer, and ye know that every manslayer hath not eternal life abiding in him. [1 Jn. 3:15 ONT]
Q. When we are forbidden to hurt the life of our neighbor, what positive duty is thereby enjoined?
A. That of doing all we can to secure his life and wellbeing.
Q. What duties follow from hence?
A. Those of:
1. Helping the poor;
2. Ministering to the sick;
3. Comforting the afflicted;
4. Alleviating the distress of the unfortunate;
5. Behaving in a gentle, affectionate, and edifying manner to all;
6. Reconciling ourselves with those that are angry;
7. Forgiving injuries, and doing good to our enemies.