YOUCAT Question n. 386 – Part I. Why does the Fifth Commandment protect the physical and spiritual integrity of a human being as well?
(Youcat
answer) The right to life and human dignity form a unity; they are inseparably
connected to each other. It is possible to put a person to death spiritually
also.
A deepening through CCC
(CCC 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 virtue and
integrity; he may even draw his brother into spiritual death. Scandal is a
grave offense if by deed or omission another is deliberately led into a grave
offense. (CCC 2326) Scandal is a grave offense when
by deed or omission it deliberately leads others to sin.
Reflecting and meditating
(Youcat comment) The commandment “You shall not kill” (Ex
20:13) applies to both physical and spiritual integrity. Every seduction and
incitement to evil, every use of force is a serious sin, especially when it
occurs in a relationship of dependency. The sin is especially evil when the
dependence of children on adults is involved. This means not only sexual abuse,
but also spiritual seduction by parents, priests, teachers, or educators who
lead their charges astray from values, and so on.
(CCC Comment)
(CCC 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 prompted our Lord to
utter this curse: "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in
me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round
his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea" (Mt 18:6; Cf. 1 Cor
8:10-13). Scandal is grave when given by those who by nature or office are
obliged to teach and educate others. Jesus reproaches the scribes and Pharisees
on this account: he likens them to wolves in sheep's clothing (Cf. Mt 7:15).
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