Being a venial sin does not make something OK to do. It is still a sin, but not one that severs your relationship with God as a mortal sin does.
Some lies are mortal sins. Some lies are venial sins. A lie to a spouse that destroys trust is probably a mortal sin. Trust in a marriage is very important, a good that must be preserved. A lie to avoid conflict could go either way. When you ask, “Do I look fat in this,” do you want him to be brutally honest, or do you want him to reassure you, especially if it’s too late to change your clothes!
Sometimes, another person does not have the right to the truth. A common example is the Nazi’s question, “Are you hiding Jews in your home?” Because the Nazis are going to do harm to the Jews if you turn them in, they do not have the right to the correct answer. While you should not tell an outright untruth, you may answer in an ambiguous way that will lead to the Nazi drawing an incorrect conclusion. Like, “Good heavens, I hardly have room for my own family in this tiny house!”
The truth is very important, and we should strive always to honor the truth, and to be truthful in our words. The fact that some lies are less serious than others does not make it OK to form the habit of lying about small things. That can lead to lying about big things and mortal sin.
Betsy
