Morality
Is it a sin to read other people's letters?
Opening or reading another person's private mail, diaries, notes, etc. can be a sin. It is not a sin if these things are left out in the open where they can be expected to be r3ead. It is not a sin if the permission of the owner can be reasonably presumed and the owner was informed afterward. Also, parents may read these things which belong to their minor children, if they have a reason to suspect this would be for their child's good. If such reading is necessary to avert grave harm to the state, to one's self, or to an innocent third party, this can be done with no sin involved. During war, the government may censor mail and this is not sinful. The degree of sinfulness in reading the private notes, diaries, letters, etc. of another will depend on the harm and injustice done to the offended person.
Reprinted from February 13, 1998
Is it wrong at an initiation even to get a person drunk by deceit, that is,
by concealing the alcoholic content of a beverage until after the person consumes
it?
I think it is immoral to do such a thing at an initiation event or at any other time. Such an act could even be a mortal sin against charity.
Reprinted from March 13, 1998
If you mean sexual promiscuity, there are two major reasons why this is wrong. First, it is not love, but merely selfish pleasure-seeking masquerading as love. Second, it is not free, but is really slavery to passion , fashion, hormones, etc. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, "The necessary precondition for the development of true freedom is to let oneself be educated in moral law" (number 2526).
Reprinted June 5, 1998
If a student cheats on an exam, is he required to later own up to the cheating
to his professor?
The answer to this question can involve more complications than appear on the surface. Certainly, if the cheating results in someone else being deprived of a scholarship, higher mark, medal, admission to a professional school or college or honor of any type, the cheater must undo the injustice and make full restitution or the sin of cheating is not forgiven, even after confession. If this can only be done by telling the professor, so be it. If the cheating does not involve and injustice to a third party, it can be forgiven with repentance, confession, contrition and personal penance, but without telling the professor. Besides being a sin against the seventh commandment, cheating on a school exam can also be a sin against charity, because the cheater exposes himself to possible expulsion or other public penalties, causing harm to his reputation and that of his family. Cheating may also involve the additional sin of disobedience.
Reprinted from February 20, 1998
If a woman is
threatened with death by a man with a weapon, is she still required to resist
a rape, even if she will probably be killed if she does not give in?
No, she is not required to resist to the point of death or to the point of likely probability of death.
Reprinted from April 24, 1998
Is it moral for workers to go on strike?
According to Catholics social teaching, working people have a right to form unions or associations and to bargain collectively with their employers. There are certain circumstances in which a strike can be just and therefore it would be moral to participate in it. To be just, a strike must be for economic reasons and not for political ends. It must be a last resort, that is, all peaceful means of solving the problems must have been tried and failed or be foreseen to be futile. The reasons for the strike must be very serious and never frivolous or superficial. The damage foreseen as coming from the strike must not exceed the good expected from its conclusion. Collateral damage, that is, damage to innocent third parties and to the common good, must not be intended and must be avoided.
Reprinted from March 28, 1997