Pick up trash, lie, steal...SINNER?!?

[20101310]

Is it wrong to pick up trash in my neighborhood?

Is it wrong to lie?

Is it wrong to steal?

God Bless and thanks in advance

 

[Vico]

Is it wrong to pick up trash in my neighborhood?

Is it wrong to lie?

Is it wrong to steal?

God Bless and thanks in advance

Catechism

2408 The seventh commandment forbids theft, that is, usurping another’s property against the reasonable will of the owner. There is no theft if consent can be presumed or if refusal is contrary to reason and the universal destination of goods. This is the case in obvious and urgent necessity when the only way to provide for immediate, essential needs (food, shelter, clothing . . .) is to put at one’s disposal and use the property of others.191

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.192

The following are also morally illicit: speculation in which one contrives to manipulate the price of goods artificially in order to gain an advantage to the detriment of others; corruption in which one influences the judgment of those who must make decisions according to law; appropriation and use for private purposes of the common goods of an enterprise; work poorly done; tax evasion; forgery of checks and invoices; excessive expenses and waste. Willfully damaging private or public property is contrary to the moral law and requires reparation.

2482 "A lie consists in speaking a falsehood with the intention of deceiving."281 The Lord denounces lying as the work of the devil: "You are of your father the devil, . . . there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies."282

2483 Lying is the most direct offense against the truth. To lie is to speak or act against the truth in order to lead someone into error. By injuring man’s relation to truth and to his neighbor, a lie offends against the fundamental relation of man and of his word to the Lord.

2484 The gravity of a lie is measured against the nature of the truth it deforms, the circumstances, the intentions of the one who lies, and the harm suffered by its victims. If a lie in itself only constitutes a venial sin, it becomes mortal when it does grave injury to the virtues of justice and charity.

2485 By its very nature, lying is to be condemned. It is a profanation of speech, whereas the purpose of speech is to communicate known truth to others. The deliberate intention of leading a neighbor into error by saying things contrary to the truth constitutes a failure in justice and charity. The culpability is greater when the intention of deceiving entails the risk of deadly consequences for those who are led astray.

 

[angel12]

Is it wrong to pick up trash in my neighborhood?

It might depend, in part, upon the circumstances. Are you just picking up trash that’s laying on the road or sidewalk? That’s one thing. Probably nothing wrong with that. But check your local ordinances, some cities have some weird ones.
Or, are you going onto people’s private property? Going through trash cans/dumpsters? That could be entirely different.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

If the trash is out on the curb it’s generally free for the taking. Check the local laws if you need to make sure.

I know in my hometown, people put out stuff like furniture and toys on the curb and pickers will run around before the trash trucks come and help themselves to anything good they can use, rehab, sell, etc. It’s fine. it’s not illegal, not a sin, and the people who have put the stuff out couldn’t care less who takes the stuff as long as it’s gone.

 

[Irishmom2]

Where I used to live, once it was out at the curb, it actually belonged to the town. They wanted to be able to stop people from rummaging through the trash and making a mess. Personally, if someone wants someone else’s old furniture, I say it’s one less thing for the landfill. And some landfill are smart enough to have areas where the “good stuff” can be placed for the taking.

So yes, you need to know the laws.

As a separate comment, yes, true stealing is a sin.