430 COMMUTATIVE JUSTICE

YOUCAT Lesson 430

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

430  What is meant by commutative justice?

Commutative justice regulates exchanges between persons in accordance with a strict respect for their rights.  It makes sure that property rights are safeguarded, debts repaid, and freely contracted obligations are fulfilled, that reparation is made for injustice or damage, and that stolen goods are returned.  [2411-2412]

 

Zacchaeus by Niels Larsen Stevns.   Jesus calls Zacchaeus down from his height in the tree. ….. 430

[2411-2412]

2411 Contracts are subject to commutative justice which regulates exchanges between persons and between institutions in accordance with a strict respect for their rights. Commutative justice obliges strictly; it requires safeguarding property rights, paying debts, and fulfilling obligations freely contracted. Without commutative justice, no other form of justice is possible. –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

One distinguishes commutative justice from legal justice which concerns what the citizen owes in fairness to the community, and from distributive justice which regulates what the community owes its citizens in proportion to their contributions and needs. –CCC

2412 In virtue of commutative justice, reparation for injustice committed requires the restitution of stolen goods to their owner: --CCC

Jesus blesses Zacchaeus for his pledge: "If I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold." (Luke  19:8.)¹⁹³ Those who, directly or indirectly, have taken possession of the goods of another, are obliged to make restitution of them, or to return the equivalent in kind or in money, if the goods have disappeared, as well as the profit or advantages their owner would have legitimately obtained from them. Likewise, all who in some manner have taken part in a theft or who have knowingly benefited from it - for example, those who ordered it, assisted in it, or received the stolen goods - are obliged to make restitution in proportion to their responsibility and to their share of what was stolen. --CCC