The Seventh Commandment "You shall not steal" teaches that all creation belongs to God and is meant for everyone's benefit, making humans stewards of God's creation. It prohibits injustice, stealing, greed, and other forms of taking what rightfully belongs to others like unfair wages, withholding payment, plagiarism, price gouging, discrimination, slavery, vandalism, fraud, and scamming. Following this commandment means caring for creation, using animals legitimately without abuse, promoting fair labor and just wages, and acting with worldwide solidarity and works of mercy.

1. The Seventh Commandment
“You Shall Not Steal”

2. The Seventh Commandment
“You shall not steal.”
 This commandment teaches us to remember that all
creation belongs first of all to God our Creator. He is
the source of all life, both seen and unseen. It also
teaches that God created the world for everyone’s
benefit. We are all made stewards of His creation.
 Related to the Tenth Commandment
 Sins to be avoided: injustice, stealing, greed
 Virtues acquired: temperance, justice, stewardship,
generosity, charity

3. The Seventh Commandment
“You shall not steal.”
 We are to care for God’s creation and be good
stewards of them. (CCC 2415)
 Legitimate use of animals so long as there is no
abuse (CCC 2417-18)
 Economic injustices: communism vs capitalism
 Fair Labor and Just Wage (CCC 2428-36)
 World-wide solidarity (CCC 2437-42)
 The Works of Mercy (CCC 2443-44)

4. The Seventh Commandment
“You shall not steal.”
Other forms of stealing:
 Unfair wage
 Deliberate withholding of what rightly belongs to
another
 Plagiarism and copyright infringement
 Profiteering and price-gouging
 Employment discrimination
 Slavery
 Vandalism and willful destruction of property
 Fraud and scamming

5. Works Cited
Catholic Church. (1994). Catechism of the Catholic Church. Vatican: Libreria Editrice
Vaticana.
Hahn, S. (2003). Lord, have mercy: the healing power of confession. New York: Double
Day.
Klein, P. (2000). The Catholic source book: a comprehensive collection of information
about the Catholic Church. Orlando: Brown-Roa.
McBride, A. (1995). Father McBride’s teen catechism. Huntington,IN: Our Sunday
Visitor.
McBride, A. (2000). Father McBride’s college catechism. Huntington,IN: Our Sunday
Visitor.
Poust, M. (2008). The complete idiot’s guide to the Catholic catechism. New York:
Alpha Books