Can christians be spies?

[BornInMarch]

Your post sounds like unambiguous victim-blaming. I posited a situation where someone is told “have sex or be executed” and you claimed the person who chooses the first option is still sinning. I find what you say disturbing and downright ungodly.

Fortunately the Church disagrees with you; the catechism states that duress can completely remove culpability for a sin so that it’s not even venial. In such cases the sin is solely on the coercer, not the coerced.

 

[BornInMarch]

It’s worth noting that what constitutes a lie isn’t as clear-cut in theological circles as one would think. For instance, when Jesuits were practicing their ministries in countries where Catholicism was illegal they’d tell authorities things that weren’t technically false but which they knew would mislead.

For example a Jesuit going to England in disguise might tell an officer “I am not a priest”. The officer heard “I personally am not ordained as a Priest” but the Jesuit Priest meant “I am not Fr. Jean”. Additionally it’s possible to avoid lying by using punctuation; saying “I’m not a. Priest” meaning (“My first initial is not A. Signed, a Priest”). A third way to do this is to give an answer that implies something else; like if the Jesuit Priest said “I am not a Dominican, a Franciscan, a Benedictine!” which implies his answer is “No” but doesn’t outright state that. Then there’s also the classic of answering a question with another question; “If I was a priest would I be dressed like a fisherman?”.

 

[Servant31]

I don’t know what the doctrine specifically is in this. I imagine it would be ok as long as it is for a just country. But like any career there are just and unjust ways to address it. Just as there are honest and dishonest lawyers, politicians etc.

However as I’ve developed in my faith I’ve made some changes. I once wanted to be in the military, or work for a defense contractor. Yet I think the idea is to love others. I thought to myself “I think we have enough ways to destroy each other, I want to light”. I thought spending time doing something constructive would be a better approach. My gym owner builds schools in a poor country, for example.

I’ve read near death experiencer accounts who ceased working for defense contractors after their experience.

That’s not to say a spy is bad necessarily, I’m honestly not sure how that would work spiritually. I think this is something to pray about and seek spiritual direction if your considering it.

 

[Dan123]

It’s worth noting that what constitutes a lie isn’t as clear-cut in theological circles as one would think.

From a non-theist perspective this just undermines the entire commandment, and in other contexts I think most of the examples you give would just be considered “weasel” answers.

“Are you cheating on me?” – “No! (I’m talking to you about whether I’m cheating…)”
“Did you lose the kid’s college money gambling?” - “No! (I lost our money that we put aside for the kids education gambling…)”
“Did you go to a strip club after work?” - “No, I didn’t go to the strip club [on 4th avenue]”
“Have you committed any sinful acts?” – “No! (none of the ones in zoroastrianism…)”

I guess this is why courts however go with ‘the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth’.

 

[otjm]

spies have to lie, deceive, seduce and even kill people that are dangerous to their countries

You are watching altogether too many movies. And you have an entirely romanticized version of what spies do.

That is not to say that some spies do some of the things you list; Christine Fang certainly can check off a good part of your list of what spies do.

But no, spies most generally do not lead such fascinating lives.

 

[PracticallyCatholic]

Yes.

Just as a Christian may be an undercover cop and participate in a prostitution or drug sting along with a host of other ‘covert’ operations.

You will find clerics have participated in intelligence gathering as well The Church having operated a de facto intelligence service.

 

[PaladinSword]

Joshua the patriarch of the old testament is the catholic saint of spies.

 

[po18guy]

Those on FaceBook already are spies.