Catechism of the Catholic Church

Share this paragraph of the Catechism:

To Catechism home page

Paragraph:

2148 Blasphemy is directly opposed to the second commandment. It consists in uttering against God - inwardly or outwardly - words of hatred, reproach, or defiance; in speaking ill of God; in failing in respect toward him in one's speech; in misusing God's name. St. James condemns those "who blaspheme that honorable name [of Jesus] by which you are called." ⁷⁸ The prohibition of blasphemy extends to language against Christ's Church, the saints, and sacred things. It is also blasphemous to make use of God's name to cover up criminal practices, to reduce peoples to servitude, to torture persons or put them to death. The misuse of God's name to commit a crime can provoke others to repudiate religion. Blasphemy is contrary to the respect due God and his holy name. It is in itself a grave sin. ⁷⁹

Move forward or back a paragraph: Previous | Next

Where this paragraph appears in the Catechism:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

»

PART THREE: LIFE IN CHRIST

»

SECTION TWO: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

»

CHAPTER ONE: YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND

»

ARTICLE 2: THE SECOND COMMANDMENT You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. 72 You have heard that it was said to the men of old, "You shall not swear falsely. . But I say to you, Do not swear at all. 73

Notes for the above paragraph:

78 Jas 2:7.

79 Cf. CIC, can. 1369.

English Translation of the Cathechism of the Catholic Church for the United States of America © 1997, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.

To Catechism home page