Can I lie in this case

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I could in the future be in a really difficult situation here. There could be a time in the future where if I do not lie I would undergo unfair criticism and laughter which I am not comfortable with. My situation is that I committed a sin (which I was absolved of) but if people found out I did it I would be laughed at and criticised and probably loose a lot of friends. If I get put in a situation where someone asks me if I did this sin, could I lie?
 
If it is something that is none of their business, then these are questions they shouldn’t ask in the first place. You are entitled to your privacy. There are ways you may be able to come up with to word your answer where you won’t have to actually lie. It just depends on what it is all about.
 
Basically let’s just say in this case if I say none of your business people will know and will still criticise me
 
You say it’s silly, which should indicate it’s not all that bad, so I’m not sure why you’d be losing friends. Depending on the nature of this thing, it might also be telling you that nature of your friendships. But, as said above, the best situation is just not to go there or come up with a way you can just move the subject on. Really unless this thing affects another person directly, they need not know. You’ve confessed it, but it sounds now like you have not made your peace with it. Making peace with it will help you immensely with the advice above.
 
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Oh no, of course don’t tell them it’s none of their business - that would be a give away. But if it really is something private and none of their business and doesn’t involve them, then it is your right not to tell them. So yes, if they have the lack if tact to ask, you have the right to lie to protect yourself.
 
The commandment says, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor,” which has always been understood to be in a forensic context.

We have looked at the principle in question and expanded it to cover the wrongness of misleading people on information to which they have a right. It also covers the importance of honesty to our daily lives.

Point being, it’s okay to tell a small utilitarian lie to protect your privacy. I will get a ton of crap for this, but no, there is not anything wrong with that.
 
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Another thing I want to add. You already know what it is and that you maybe asked about it. Prepare your answer. You are in a better position this way rather than being caught off guard.
 
I have been told, “The ends do not justify the means”.

But if someone on here can explain the principle of double effect and how it doesn’t apply to certain lies I would be glad
 
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Are you trying to say lying isn’t inherently wrong? Are we not to be for the Truth?
 
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This is the kinda thing that we say when we do not regard the actual commandment and just say lying is bad.

Speaking so as to mislead people when the specific words you say are not technically inaccurate is seen as okay, but “lying” is totally different and not okay.
 
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Look at the commandment. It does not say not to lie. And the Bible approves of a lot of lies. Judith lies. Joshua had spies - you don’t think they ever lied? Abram tells Sarai to lie to save their lives, and the author doesn’t seem to judge that.

These are just off the top of my head.
 
You can say “it is none of your business”. You can refuse to answer. You can simply walk away.

You can look at Jesus who was spat on and ridiculed yet He was blameless and spoke not a word.

You can find solid, Catholic friends who act like mature adults.

As the Catechism says, we cannot commit evil so that good can come of it.
 
When people pry in other people’s private business, they don’t have the right to the truth. Some “truths” are simply none of their business. Everyone has the right to protect their privacy from any malicious or idle curiosity.
 
Sorry, but, the Church teaches otherwise:

1753 A good intention (for example, that of helping one’s neighbor) does not make behavior that is intrinsically disordered, such as lying and calumny, good or just. The end does not justify the means. Thus the condemnation of an innocent person cannot be justified as a legitimate means of saving the nation. On the other hand, an added bad intention (such as vainglory) makes an act evil that, in and of itself, can be good (such as almsgiving)

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s1c1a4.htm
 
The chapter is entitled “Dignity of the Human Person,” and says, “lyingAND calumny” and then the only example it gives is condemning an innocent man for national interest.

I think the Cathechism is talking about the original meaning of the commandment, a primarily forensic meaning.
 
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Subterfuge is an art. So, if pressed on the issue, obfuscate, blur, muddle, complicate, over complicate, muddy, cloud, befog and you should be fine. Don’t be afraid to do a tap dance or the old soft shoe. Diversions are great, too. Maybe you get a phone call at the very moment you were about to answer. You might even consider the old fake heart attack routine. That gets people out of things all the time. 😎😎😎
 
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Lying is intrinsically disordered. Do your own study on the current CCC at the link I provided.
 
I guess we read that passage differently. I will give you the compliment of not thinking that it would matter what you say here, if you were in Kant’s famous example of just how far he’d go to tell the truth.
 
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