431. Domestic charitable duties are those of a husband to his wife and a wife to her husband; as well as those of a father and mother to their children, and those of children to their parents; also those of a master or mistress to their servants and maids, and theirs to their masters. These duties, being concerned with the bringing up of children and the running of a home, are so numerous that if they were listed they would fill a book. It is a different kind of love which urges each person to these duties from that which urges them to the duties of office. In the case of a husband's duties to his wife and a wife's to her husband it is the result of conjugial love and dependent upon this. In the case of a father's and mother's love for their children, it is the result of the instinctive love everyone has, what is called parental affection. In the case of children for their parents it is the result of and dependent on another love which is closely connected with dutiful obedience. The duties, however, of a master or mistress to their servants and maids draw something from the love of controlling others, and this varies according to each person's state of mind.
[2] But conjugial love, and the love for children, together with their duties and the fulfilment of these duties, do not create love towards the neighbour, as does the fulfilment of the duties of office. For what is called parental affection exists just as much with the wicked as the good, and is sometimes stronger in the case of the wicked; it also exists with animals and birds, which are incapable of the development of charity. It is well known that this exists with bears, tigers and snakes just as much as with sheep and goats, with owls just as much as with doves.
[3] On the particular subject of parents' duties to their children, there is an intrinsic difference between those of the charitable and the uncharitable, although outwardly they appear similar. In the case of the charitable that love is linked with love towards the neighbour and love to God, for these people love their children for their morals, their virtues, their enthusiasms, and their talents for public service. But in the case of the uncharitable there is no linking of charity with parental affection. Most of these people therefore love their children even if they are wicked, immoral and sly more than if they are good, moral and prudent; in other words, they love those who are no use to the public more than those who are useful.
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