Chapter — Konings, Theologia Moralis
CHAPTER I: ON RESTITUTION ON ACCOUNT OF DAMAGE IN GOODS OF THE SOUL
Generally each one is bound from justice to repair damage which he has efficaciously and unjustly brought upon the neighbor in goods of the soul, both natural and supernatural, provided that this damage can be repaired in the same order. For no one has a less strict right not to be injured in goods of this kind than not to be injured in goods of fortune.
- Resolutions. - I. As to damage in supernatural goods:
1° He who by force, lie, fraud, or unjust fear induced someone into lethal sin is bound under mortal sin from justice to reparation of the damage, by taking away the force or seduction, by manifesting the error, etc. But one who without force or fraud, but only by counsel, induced someone to sin lethally, is indeed bound from charity to revoke that counsel, but not from justice, because no injury is done to one knowing and willing.
2° He who by deceit induced another into error, especially practical, from which grave damage can arise to him in matter of morals, is bound from justice to repair the damages which come from it, and therefore with all care to remove him from error. Say the same concerning speculative error about the articles of Faith.
3° He who by force, grave fear, or fraud impeded someone from entrance into Religion, or induced one already entered to desert Religion, is bound from justice to remove the fraud and deceit; for each one has a right not to be unjustly impeded or drawn away from the obtaining or possession of so great a good. He is likewise bound to repair damages caused to the monastery or Order through the departure of a professed religious, or even more probably of a novice.2
4° He who inculpably placed a cause of damage in spiritual goods, for example preaching false things in a moral matter which he thought true, is bound to the same thing as a material damager who can still impede the damage. Recall what was said n. 749. q. 3°.
Notes to n. 805. (1) L. IV. 660. 661. (2) L. IV. 662.
- II. As to damage in natural goods:
1° He who deprived another of memory, reason, etc., through poison, a love-potion, etc., is bound from justice to repair everything which is reparable from the damage unjustly inflicted.
2° He who by fraud impedes another from learning a science, an art, ... or from teaching others, is bound to dispel the fraud and to repair temporal damages which have arisen from it.
3° He who from office ought to teach an art or science is bound to correct errors, if he has admitted any of some moment. The same obligation also lies upon him if from negligence or levity he has mixed probable things with improbable.
4° But if someone gratuitously and without the obligation of agreement or office were to teach badly, that is, without any or with slight progress of the pupil, from negligence or ignorance, fraud and deceit being set aside, he would not be bound to reparation.
5° He who inculpably placed a cause of damage in natural goods is bound to the same thing as he concerning whom in the next preceding number under 4° it was said.