CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
SECOND EDITION
Paragraphs 2201–2300
- 2201 The conjugal community is established upon the consent of the spouses. Marriage and the family are ordered to the good of the spouses and…
- 2202 A man and a woman united in marriage, together with their children, form a family. This institution is prior to any recognition by public…
- 2203 In creating man and woman, God instituted the human family and endowed it with its fundamental constitution. Its members are persons equal…
- 2204 "The Christian family constitutes a specific revelation and realization of ecclesial communion, and for this reason it can and should be…
- 2205 The Christian family is a communion of persons, a sign and image of the communion of the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit. In the…
- 2206 The relationships within the family bring an affinity of feelings, affections and interests, arising above all from the members' respect…
- 2207 The family is the original cell of social life . It is the natural society in which husband and wife are called to give themselves in love…
- 2208 The family should live in such a way that its members learn to care and take responsibility for the young, the old, the sick, the…
- 2209 The family must be helped and defended by appropriate social measures. Where families cannot fulfill their responsibilities, other social…
- 2210 The importance of the family for the life and well-being of society entails a particular responsibility for society to support and…
- 2211 The political community has a duty to honor the family, to assist it, and to ensure especially: - the freedom to establish a family, have…
- 2212 The fourth commandment illuminates other relationships in society . In our brothers and sisters we see the children of our parents; in our…
- 2213 Human communities are made up of persons . Governing them well is not limited to guaranteeing rights and fulfilling duties such as honoring…
- 2214 The divine fatherhood is the source of human fatherhood; this is the foundation of the honor owed to parents. The respect of children,…
- 2215 Respect for parents ( filial piety ) derives from gratitude toward those who, by the gift of life, their love and their work, have brought…
- 2216 Filial respect is shown by true docility and obedience . "My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not your mother's teaching.…
- 2217 As long as a child lives at home with his parents, the child should obey his parents in all that they ask of him when it is for his good or…
- 2218 The fourth commandment reminds grown children of their responsibilities toward their parents . As much as they can, they must give them…
- 2219 Filial respect promotes harmony in all of family life; it also concerns relationships between brothers and sisters . Respect toward parents…
- 2220 For Christians a special gratitude is due to those from whom they have received the gift of faith, the grace of Baptism, and life in the…
- 2221 The fecundity of conjugal love cannot be reduced solely to the procreation of children, but must extend to their moral education and their…
- 2222 Parents must regard their children as children of God and respect them as human persons . Showing themselves obedient to the will of the…
- 2223 Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children. They bear witness to this responsibility first by creating a…
- 2224 The home is the natural environment for initiating a human being into solidarity and communal responsibilities. Parents should teach…
- 2225 Through the grace of the sacrament of marriage, parents receive the responsibility and privilege of evangelizing their children . Parents…
- 2226 Education in the faith by the parents should begin in the child's earliest years. This already happens when family members help one another…
- 2227 Children in turn contribute to the growth in holiness of their parents. Each and everyone should be generous and tireless in forgiving one…
- 2228 Parents' respect and affection are expressed by the care and attention they devote to bringing up their young children and providing for…
- 2229 As those first responsible for the education of their children, parents have the right to choose a school for them which corresponds to…
- 2230 When they become adults, children have the right and duty to choose their profession and state of life . They should assume their new…
- 2231 Some forgo marriage in order to care for their parents or brothers and sisters, to give themselves more completely to a profession, or to…
- 2232 Family ties are important but not absolute. Just as the child grows to maturity and human and spiritual autonomy, so his unique vocation…
- 2233 Becoming a disciple of Jesus means accepting the invitation to belong to God's family , to live in conformity with His way of life: "For…
- 2234 God's fourth commandment also enjoins us to honor all who for our good have received authority in society from God. It clarifies the duties…
- 2235 Those who exercise authority should do so as a service. "Whoever would be great among you must be your servant." The exercise of authority…
- 2236 The exercise of authority is meant to give outward expression to a just hierarchy of values in order to facilitate the exercise of freedom…
- 2237 Political authorities are obliged to respect the fundamental rights of the human person. They will dispense justice humanely by respecting…
- 2238 Those subject to authority should regard those in authority as representatives of God, who has made them stewards of his gifts: "Be subject…
- 2239 It is the duty of citizens to contribute along with the civil authorities to the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity,…
- 2240 Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote,…
- 2241 The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of…
- 2242 The citizen is obliged in conscience not to follow the directives of civil authorities when they are contrary to the demands of the moral…
- 2243 Armed resistance to oppression by political authority is not legitimate, unless all the following conditions are met: 1) there is certain,…
- 2244 Every institution is inspired, at least implicitly, by a vision of man and his destiny, from which it derives the point of reference for…
- 2245 The Church, because of her commission and competence, is not to be confused in any way with the political community. She is both the sign…
- 2246 It is a part of the Church's mission "to pass moral judgments even in matters related to politics, whenever the fundamental rights of man…
- 2247 "Honor your father and your mother" ( Deut 5:16; Mk 7:10).
- 2248 According to the fourth commandment, God has willed that, after him, we should honor our parents and those whom he has vested with…
- 2249 The conjugal community is established upon the covenant and consent of the spouses. Marriage and family are ordered to the good of the…
- 2250 "The well-being of the individual person and of both human and Christian society is closely bound up with the healthy state of conjugal and…
- 2251 Children owe their parents respect, gratitude, just obedience, and assistance. Filial respect fosters harmony in all of family life.
- 2252 Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children in the faith, prayer, and all the virtues. They have the duty to…
- 2253 Parents should respect and encourage their children's vocations. They should remember and teach that the first calling of the Christian is…
- 2254 Public authority is obliged to respect the fundamental rights of the human person and the conditions for the exercise of his freedom.
- 2255 It is the duty of citizens to work with civil authority for building up society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom.
- 2256 Citizens are obliged in conscience not to follow the directives of civil authorities when they are contrary to the demands of the moral…
- 2257 Every society's judgments and conduct reflect a vision of man and his destiny. Without the light the Gospel sheds on God and man, societies…
- 2258 You shall not kill. You have heard that it was said to the men of old, "You shall not kill: and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment."…
- 2259 In the account of Abel's murder by his brother Cain, Scripture reveals the presence of anger and envy in man, consequences of original sin,…
- 2260 The covenant between God and mankind is interwoven with reminders of God's gift of human life and man's murderous violence: For your…
- 2261 Scripture specifies the prohibition contained in the fifth commandment: "Do not slay the innocent and the righteous." The deliberate murder…
- 2262 In the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord recalls the commandment, "You shall not kill," and adds to it the proscription of anger, hatred, and…
- 2263 The legitimate defense of persons and societies is not an exception to the prohibition against the murder of the innocent that constitutes…
- 2264 Love toward oneself remains a fundamental principle of morality. Therefore it is legitimate to insist on respect for one's own right to…
- 2265 Legitimate defense can be not only a right but a grave duty for one who is responsible for the lives of others. The defense of the common…
- 2266 The efforts of the state to curb the spread of behavior harmful to people's rights and to the basic rules of civil society correspond to…
- 2267 2267 Recourse to the death penalty on the part of legitimate authority, following a fair trial, was long considered an appropriate response…
- 2268 The fifth commandment forbids direct and intentional killing as gravely sinful. The murderer and those who cooperate voluntarily in murder…
- 2269 The fifth commandment forbids doing anything with the intention of indirectly bringing about a person's death. The moral law prohibits…
- 2270 Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being…
- 2271 Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains…
- 2272 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime…
- 2273 The inalienable right to life of every innocent human individual is a constitutive element of a civil society and its legislation : "The…
- 2274 Since it must be treated from conception as a person, the embryo must be defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed, as far as…
- 2275 "One must hold as licit procedures carried out on the human embryo which respect the life and integrity of the embryo and do not involve…
- 2276 Those whose lives are diminished or weakened deserve special respect. Sick or handicapped persons should be helped to lead lives as normal…
- 2277 Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is…
- 2278 Discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be…
- 2279 Even if death is thought imminent, the ordinary care owed to a sick person cannot be legitimately interrupted. The use of painkillers to…
- 2280 Everyone is responsible for his life before God who has given it to him. It is God who remains the sovereign Master of life. We are obliged…
- 2281 Suicide contradicts the natural inclination of the human being to preserve and perpetuate his life. It is gravely contrary to the just love…
- 2282 If suicide is committed with the intention of setting an example, especially to the young, it also takes on the gravity of scandal.…
- 2283 We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the…
- 2284 Scandal is an attitude or behavior which leads another to do evil. The person who gives scandal becomes his neighbor's tempter. He damages…
- 2285 Scandal takes on a particular gravity by reason of the authority of those who cause it or the weakness of those who are scandalized. It…
- 2286 Scandal can be provoked by laws or institutions, by fashion or opinion. Therefore, they are guilty of scandal who establish laws or social…
- 2287 Anyone who uses the power at his disposal in such a way that it leads others to do wrong becomes guilty of scandal and responsible for the…
- 2288 Life and physical health are precious gifts entrusted to us by God. We must take reasonable care of them, taking into account the needs of…
- 2289 If morality requires respect for the life of the body, it does not make it an absolute value. It rejects a neo-pagan notion that tends to…
- 2290 The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess : the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine. Those incur grave…
- 2291 The use of drugs inflicts very grave damage on human health and life. Their use, except on strictly therapeutic grounds, is a grave…
- 2292 Scientific, medical, or psychological experiments on human individuals or groups can contribute to healing the sick and the advancement of…
- 2293 Basic scientific research, as well as applied research, is a significant expression of man's dominion over creation. Science and technology…
- 2294 It is an illusion to claim moral neutrality in scientific research and its applications. On the other hand, guiding principles cannot be…
- 2295 Research or experimentation on the human being cannot legitimate acts that are in themselves contrary to the dignity of persons and to the…
- 2296 Organ transplants are in conformity with the moral law if the physical and psychological dangers and risks to the donor are proportionate…
- 2297 Kidnapping and hostage taking bring on a reign of terror; by means of threats they subject their victims to intolerable pressures. They are…
- 2298 In times past, cruel practices were commonly used by legitimate governments to maintain law and order, often without protest from the…
- 2299 The dying should be given attention and care to help them live their last moments in dignity and peace. They will be helped by the prayer…
- 2300 The bodies of the dead must be treated with respect and charity, in faith and hope of the Resurrection. The burial of the dead is a…