YOUCAT Lesson 431, July 29, 2015
YOUCAT the catechism
for Catholic youth
431 Is it permissible to use tax dodges?
Inventiveness in dealing with complex systems of taxation is
morally unobjectionable. It is immoral
to evade taxes to commit tax fraud, in other words, to falsify, fail to report,
or conceal facts so as to prevent a correct assessment of taxes due. [2409]
Jesus and the tribute money. Artwork by Gustave Dore. (Foreground:
A Tiberius Roman denarius insert by Don L. Bragg). …..431
Then the
Pharisees* went off and plotted how they might entrap him
in speech. They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are
a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
And you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion, for you do not regard a
person’s status. Tell us, then, what is your opinion:
Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” Knowing their malice, Jesus
said, “Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin that pays the census
tax.” Then they handed him the Roman coin. He said to them, “Whose image
is this and whose inscription?” They
replied, “Caesar’s.”* At that he said to them, “Then repay to Caesar
what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” When they heard this they were
amazed, and leaving him they went away.--Matthew 22:15-22
By paying taxes, citizens contribute, each according to his
ability, so that the State can fulfill its duties. Therefore tax evasion is not a petty
infraction. Taxes should be just and
proportionate and should be levied by law.
Jesus praises the promise made by the tax collector
Zacchaeus: “If I have defrauded any one
of anything, I restore it fourfold” (Luke 19:8)
Respect for the goods of
others
2409 Even if it does not contradict the provisions of civil
law, any form of unjustly taking and keeping the property of others is against
the seventh commandment: thus, deliberate retention of goods lent or of objects
lost; business fraud; paying unjust wages; forcing up prices by taking
advantage of the ignorance or hardship of another. (Compare Deuteronomy 25:13-16; Deut 24:14-15; James 5:4; Amos 8:4-6.)192 –Catechism
of the Catholic Church, Second Edition
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