Thou shall not lie…hmm….what constitutes a lie?
A lie happens when one is denied or deceived of certain information which he or she has the right to know. Thus a lie is always wrong, and cannot be justified.
However, when one has no right to the information, withholding such information from him or her is merely telling an untruth. Thus an untruth may be justifiable in certain circumstances.
For example, a robber breaks into a house. After taking away all displayed money and valuables in the house, at gun point, he asks the owner if there are more money and valuables hidden in the house. The owner is under no obligation to tell the truth to the robber because the robber has no right to such information. Even if there are more money and valuables hidden elsewhere in the house, the owner can say to the robber that there is no more. This would constitute an untruth rather than a lie since the robber has no right to know if there are more money and valuables hidden elsewhere.
It is important for one to be able to differentiate between a lie and an untruth. A lie is always wrong, but an untruth may be justifiable in certain circumstances.
CCC 2488 teaches that:
The right to the communication of the truth is not unconditional. Everyone must conform his life to the Gospel precept of fraternal love. This requires us in concrete situations to judge whether or not it is appropriate to reveal the truth to someone who asks for it.
The Church recognizes that there are situations where revealing certain information may bring more harm than good. A person should be careful about revealing information which may disregard “the good and safety of others, respect for privacy, and the common good”(CCC 2489). These are good enough reasons for withholding information from those who do not have the right to know it. CCC 2489 states:
The good and safety of others, respect for privacy, and the common good are sufficient reasons for being silent about what ought not to be known or for making use of a discreet language. The duty to avoid scandal often commands strict discretion. No one is bound to reveal the truth to someone who does not have the right to know it.
Thus the Church’s teaching does allow the withholding of information under certain circumstances. Beyond such circumstances, one must always be truthful and honest.
“Charity and respect for the truth should dictate the response to every request for information or communication.” (CCC 2489)
Besides charity, one must also exercise prudence to discern when, how and to whom information can or cannot be revealed.
Written in thankfulness,
Josephine Heng
Reference:
Fr James Yeo, Christian Morality – A Concise Presentation on The Fundamentals of Catholic Moral Theology. Southbound, 2020.