Thou shalt not lie

Growing up in Montana, I remember in grade school that there are two items that you must never forget: don’t lie (“I give you my word”) and respect a person’s reputation (do not damage it).

The Bible describes the seriousness of dishonesty. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” Lying is the most direct offense against the truth. Lying is a sin that originates from the devil, Satan, who is “the father of all lies” (John 8:44).

I reference the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) paragraph numbers as I find no better explanation describing lying, and the effects it has on an individual’s reputation and society.

CCC2484: The gravity of a lie is measured against the nature of the truth it deforms…and the harm suffered by its victims…it becomes mortal when it does grave injury to the virtues of justice and charity.

Lying, knowing that your dishonesty will hurt someone, tainting their reputation…is a mortal sin. A mortal sin cuts off our relationship from God. Jesus warns us that, “Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned” (John 15:6).

Holding an office of authority and lying about someone goes both ways; lies harm the person being lied about, plus the person who tells lies risks their own reputation and destroys trust with them.

CCC2477: Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude/word likely to cause them unjust injury. He becomes guilty of calumny who, by remarks contrary to the truth, harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them.

CCC2479: Detraction and calumny destroy the reputation and honor of one’s neighbor. Honor is the social witness given to human dignity, and everyone enjoys a natural right to the honor of his name and reputation and to respect.

CCC2486: Since it violates the virtue of truthfulness, a lie does real violence to another. It contains the seed of discord and all consequent evils….Lying is destructive of society.

So how does the untruthful person rectify damage caused to one’s reputation?

CCC2487: Every offense committed against justice and truth entails the duty of reparation, even if its author has been forgiven. This duty of reparation also concerns offenses against another’s reputation. This reparation, moral and sometimes material, must be evaluated in terms of the extent of the damage inflicted. Read CCC2464.

We are warned against all forms of dishonesty. The command against “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” violates the command to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Respect for human dignity requires the putting away of all falsehood that results in injury to others and therefore to Jesus Christ himself, who has taught us whatever we do to others, we do to Him. Jesus is merciful (I Trust in You), examine one’s conscious, go to confession, do reparation, and seek forgiveness from those you offended.