Adsum

February 2004

Dishonesty in a Public Employee

by Very Rev. Francis J. Connell, C.SS.R., S.T.D., L.L.D., L.J.D.

Question: A foreman in a city department of labor finds that certain dishonest practices are expected of him. For example, he is supposed to give freely to some persons favored by the “bosses” large amounts of material belonging to the city, and also to have jobs done at the expense of the city for these same “good friends.” Also, he is expected to give some of the other employees credit for working on days when they did no work. If he does not cooperate with such dishonest procedures, he will lose favor with the “bosses,” and be impeded in his efforts to get a promotion — perhaps even lose his job. In such circumstances may he “go along” with these practices?

Answer: The practices described have become all too prevalent in modern political life in America; and unfortunately there are some Catholics who believe that they can lawfully cooperate on the grounds that “everybody is doing it,” or “you can’t keep your job if you don't go along with the bosses,&38221; etc. But is this attitude justifiable according to Catholic standards of morality? I cannot see how it is. To me it seems to be an unlawful concession to the spirit of dishonesty that is so prevalent in all fields of life in our country today...

The excuses that are sometimes alleged by those who practice dishonesty in politics or business are very weak. When such persons say: "Everybody's doing it," they are trying to rationalize. Thank God, there are still some honest persons in the world, and those who seek to include everyone in the same category as themselves are simply telling another lie. The argument: "If I don't play along with the crowd, I'll lose my job," is much overworked. It might be the case sometimes, but usually when a man lets it be known, by word and by deed, that he is not going to take part in dishonest practices, he will be let alone and not discharged. In fact, he may be secretly admired by those who have not the courage to imitate him, or he may even induce some to follow his example. But, even if he does lose his job or is kept from advancement, he should not waver in his loyalty to the principles of honesty. That is one of the instances in which a person must think of the words of Jesus Christ. "What does it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, but suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matt., 16:26).

Catholics should remember, too, that dishonest practices on their part may easily give scandal. When persons of other religious beliefs, knowing that Catholics claim to have the one true faith, see their Catholic co-workers engaging in unjustifiable practices, their first reaction may very well be: "What a weak religion Catholicism must be, when it cannot induce its members to live up to their principles!"

I believe that we can say unhesitatingly that Catholics who indulge in the practices described by our questioner are weak in their faith. They may go to Mass regularly and even receive the sacraments (worthily, we hope, subjectively), they may be pure and temperate in their personal lives — but they should bear in mind that to violate the law of God seriously even in one respect will deprive the soul of sanctifying grace. It is hard to see how a person can have strong Catholic faith when he is so inconsistent. What assurance have we that in the event of a persecution such a Catholic would be loyal to his faith?

I believe, therefore, that when priests are asked about dishonest business and political transactions such as are described in the question, they should reply that they are sins against God’s law — even though they are sometimes sheltered under the name of "sharp practices" — and that, if a serious amount of money is involved, they are mortal sins.

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