Question Three: On the Causes Excusing the Taking of Another's Thing

409. State of the question. - Theft is the unjust taking of another's thing; and therefore it can never be made honest or excused. Nevertheless there are causes which make the taking of another's thing no longer unjust but lawful, and for this reason they are called by theologians excusing causes. These are two: urgent necessity and hidden compensation (uiterste nood and heimelijke vergoeding).