Msg Base:  AREA 5  - ASK FATHER            CIN ECHO   AMDG
  Msg No: 147.  Fri 10-04-91 16:01  (RECV'D)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Mike O'donnell
 Subject: The 4th Commandment

³ Hello, Father.  I just want to make sure that I am teaching my children
³ the correct interpretation of the 4th commandment.  I recall in religion
³ class in 4th grade, Sister Mary Edgar spending a lot of time on the first
³ 3, saying "Obey your parents", and going on to #5.  (She skipped 6 and 9,
³ saying that we didn't need to know what those meant yet--this is really
³ true!!!)
³
³ I interpret "father and mother" to be everyone.  In my mind, I would be
³ sinning against the 4th commandment if I told my children to shut up (or
³ some other act of disrespect.)  I view ridicule and verbal harassment as
³ being forbidden by this commandment.  This would be of anyone; parents,
³ siblings, neighbors, friends, children, the state trooper who pulls you
³ over for doing 65/55 zone -- anyone.
³
³ In your opinion, is this correct (as it pertains to the 4th commandment?)
³ We prepare our son Patrick for reconciliation this Fall.  He's starting
³ the 2nd grade.
 
Dear Mike,
 
The 4th commandment covers duties within the family, not only of
children towards parents, but also of parents toward children.  It
also governs duties within civil society--citizens toward authorities
and vice versa--and duties of employers and employees.
 
Sins may be classified, however, in another way than by the
commandments.  We may ask, "What VIRTUE does this or that sin
violate?"
 
Disrespect towards another, for example, is against the virtue of
charity.  Cheating on taxes is against the virtue of justice.
 
I do not think "father and mother" is everyone.  The 4th commandment
is the "authority commandment."  Christians cannot be absolute
egalitarians.  All true authority comes from God, and God must be
seen and served in others--all others, of course, but especially in
those exercising legitimate authority, like parents.
 
Children need to be corrected sometimes--don't we all?  If a child
ought to be quiet now, you ought to tell him so.  Not to do so is
actually unjust to him.  Society is very harsh on those who haven't
learned their behavior lessons at home.
 
The bishops of the U.S. teach that there are THREE sacraments of
reconciliation:  baptism, penance, and Eucharist.  I hope you prepare
Patrick for the sacrament of PENANCE, get him ready to go to
CONFESSION.  The term "reconciliation" as a name for this sacrament
is vague and misleading.  In fact, it isn't working, and it doesn't
fly with little kids--nor with most of the rest of us either.
 
                                      Sincerely in Christ,
                                      Father Mateo