Library › St Philaret of Moscow › Longer Catechism
Longer Catechism
St Philaret of Moscow, in Blackmore, 1845
Part 3, 8. On the Sixth Commandment
Q. What is forbidden by the sixth commandment?
A. Murder; that is, taking away the life of our neighbour 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 defence 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 neighbour 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 duellist, instead of having recourse to law, wilfully 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 neighbour to fall into infidelity or into sin, and so subjects his soul to spiritual death.
The Saviour says; Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Mat. xviii. 6.
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 neighbour; and, lastly, all inward malice against him, even though it be not shewn openly. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer. 1 John iii. 15.
Q. When we are forbidden to hurt the life of our neighbour, what positive duty is thereby enjoined?
A. That of doing all we can to secure his life and well-being.
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.