Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 386 – Part II.

YOUCAT Question n. 386 – Part II. Why does the Fifth Commandment protect the physical and spiritual integrity of a human being as well?

(Youcat answer - repeated) 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 2286) Scandal can be provoked by laws or institutions, by fashion or opinion. Therefore, they are guilty of scandal who establish laws or social structures leading to the decline of morals and the corruption of religious practice, or to "social conditions that, intentionally or not, make Christian conduct and obedience to the Commandments difficult and practically impossible" (Pius XII, Discourse, June 1, 1941). This is also true of business leaders who make rules encouraging fraud, teachers who provoke their children to anger (Cf. Eph 6:4; Col 3:21), or manipulators of public opinion who turn it away from moral values.  

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 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 evil that he has directly or indirectly encouraged. "Temptations to sin are sure to come; but woe to him by whom they come!" (Lk 17:1).  (CCC 2326) Scandal is a grave offense when by deed or omission it deliberately leads others to sin.       

(The next question is: How should we treat our body?)