Is it a sin to do technically excusable things, but are not in line with the written law itself?

[starrygirl]

Let me illustrate: my teacher have been printing out some “confidential” documents for us to read. They are just sample scripts of the previous public exam. The thing is, the reason why it is not permitted to make copies of them or to let students read it, I guess, is because the authority doesn’t want it to be leaked before hand. In the end, they might release it like they did for the model answers. Those model answers were also confidential and teachers only materials before the authority published them. So, technically speaking, as long as what my teacher did didn’t cause a leak, the authority doesn’t have enough ground to sue her.

But I also remember something from the catechism, where it said we should obey authorities. The thing is, what if we only followed the spirit of the law and not the actual words in these kind of legal cases? Are we disobeying authorities then?

Please also let me know what you think I should do in the next lesson when the teacher distributes them again. I don’t want to cooperate with evil by passing down the scrupts, getting them for my classmates or anything like that.

 

[Carolus_Martell]

“…if the King’s cause be not good, the King himself hath a heavy reckoning to make…”

Just study up what the teacher gave you to better get the ‘feel’ of what answers are required and don’t make it harder than it is.

 

[JRKH]

“…if the King’s cause be not good, the King himself hath a heavy reckoning to make…”

Just study up what the teacher gave you to better get the ‘feel’ of what answers are required and don’t make it harder than it is.

OOO - a quote from Henry V…a scene that often comes to my mind in discussions here…I have that Kenneth Branaugh(sp?) version…Great movie.

I tend to agree with your suggestion that the sin, if any, lies upon the teacher. That said, if the OP feels that using the materials is cooperating with evil then I suggest she simply not use them…As for the matter of “passing them back”. That is not an issue in the matter of cooperation (in my view).

Peace
James

 

[Matthew_Holford]

Let me illustrate: my teacher have been printing out some “confidential” documents for us to read. They are just sample scripts of the previous public exam. The thing is, the reason why it is not permitted to make copies of them or to let students read it, I guess, is because the authority doesn’t want it to be leaked before hand. In the end, they might release it like they did for the model answers. Those model answers were also confidential and teachers only materials before the authority published them. So, technically speaking, as long as what my teacher did didn’t cause a leak, the authority doesn’t have enough ground to sue her.

But I also remember something from the catechism, where it said we should obey authorities. The thing is, what if we only followed the spirit of the law and not the actual words in these kind of legal cases? Are we disobeying authorities then?

Please also let me know what you think I should do in the next lesson when the teacher distributes them again. I don’t want to cooperate with evil by passing down the scrupts, getting them for my classmates or anything like that.

Where are you? Obviously, you don’t have to answer that question. I ask because here in the UK examination boards publish past examination papers. I can see nothing wrong in looking at past exam papers. Now, if your teacher had obtained copies of exam papers to be sat in the future that would certainly be wrong.

If anything wrong is being done then it is being done by the teacher. The teacher may be infringing copyright.