The Fifth Commandment

(Plain Text Version)

The Fifth Commandment: You Shall Not Kill.
Each of us is important because God made us. God cares for us during our life on earth, and He alone has the authority to end our time on earth. “Whoever attacks human life, in some way attacks God Himself.” (The Gospel of Life, paragraph 9).
The Fifth Commandment commands us to respect and care for human life, from conception to natural death. God expects us to take all reasonable steps to ensure the health and safety of ourselves and our neighbors.
The Devil is a Liar and a Murderer (see John 8:44)
Care for human life is our greatest responsibility toward others.
The fall of the human race began with a lie from the Devil. Satan said that disobedience was the path to a great life. To this day, the Evil One continues to deceive us.
Satan offers murder as the way to a “fulfilled” life, and the solution to real and imaginary problems, such as danger from enemies, overpopulation, genetic disorders, and “unnecessary suffering.”
The Fifth Commandment Forbids Direct Killing
The Fifth Commandment forbids murder in all of its forms, in particular:
Abortion is a grave sin against an innocent human being. Abortion has become widespread because of two failures: the denial that the fetus is a new human being, and the failure to help mothers in need. Today, we know that the DNA of the fetus is different from that of either of the parents. The fetus is not an “it.” The fetus is a new member of the human family. We all have an obligation to care for this child, whether “wanted” or not.
Euthanasia is murder of someone because their illness is inconvenient or because of a misguided attempt to avoid suffering. “Assisted suicide” is a form of euthanasia where caregivers encourage self-harm, rather than help the patient to accept natural death. Let us not be naive: when civil laws permit “assisted suicide,” abuses become rampant.
Unjust Warfare consumes human lives because of hatred, greed, or an attempt to create better governments. We need to heed the recent appeals by Pope Leo XIV.
Capital Punishment is not necessary to protect society today. Christ gave us the command: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44).”
Further Offences Against the Fifth Commandment
We know that anger leads to much violence. In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ explained that unrestrained anger is seriously wrong (see Matthew 5:21-22).
Verbal and physical attacks on others are offences against the dignity God gave them.

Many thanks to: Pope St. John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life) 1995
Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J., Pocket Catholic Catechism, 1989, Doubleday
Saint Joseph New Catholic Bible, 2019, Catholic Book Publishing Corp.