“Whoever knowingly makes or intentionally spends counterfeit money shall be separated from the communion of the faithful as one accursed, an oppressor of the poor and a disturber of the state”

Lateran 1, Canon 13 (15 in some numberings), 1123 AD

What’s interesting to me isn’t just that counterfeiting is singled out for condemnation — it’s that one of the reasons given is that it amounts to oppression of the poor. These guys were onto something.

“How, exactly, do counterfeit bills oppress the poor?” is a good question. Think about it, and you may come to some unexpected conclusions!