Respect of Persons

Respect of persons is manifested in the bestowing of agood on one person and withholding it from another, not because the receiver is qualified or worthy, but because he is this person-your friend, perhaps, or your relative, or one who can later confer a favor on you, or one whom you revere as rich or prominent. Respect of persons is an offense against distributive justice.

The sin of respect of persons may occur even with reference to spiritual things, as, for example, in ecclesiasticalappointments, in admitting children to First Communion, in attending the sick for spiritual ministration, etc.

Respect of persons appears in respect and honor paid to unworthy individuals or for unjust reasons, as, for example, in honor paid to a man for the sole reason that he has money.

A judge who, in passing sentence, is hard upon common men and obsequious to the rich or the politically powerful, is guilty of the sin of respect of persons.