Do lies need to be corrected to be forgiven?

[Hermione]

Hi Everyone,

I am wondering if it is necessary to correct lies to be forgiven for them. What if they are white lies that hurt no one?

What about old promises? If I made a promise years ago (to call someone) and never did, do I need to do it now or can it be let go?

Thanks

 

[geezerbob]

I’m not at all sure what the official Church position on this is, and certainly not what an individual confessor might say. However, I go to the words that Jesus spoke in Matthew 5 and try to make decisions in matters such as these based on that.

23 If therefore thou offer thy gift at the altar, and there thou remember that thy brother hath any thing against thee; 24 Leave there thy offering before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to thy brother: and then coming thou shalt offer thy gift.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Hermione:

Hi Everyone,

I am wondering if it is necessary to correct lies to be forgiven for them. What if they are white lies that hurt no one?

What about old promises? If I made a promise years ago (to call someone) and never did, do I need to do it now or can it be let go?

Thanks

The response would be, If you can correct a lie, return property, apologise, then you should. However your absolution is not dependent upon you doing this.

 

[awalt]

I have confessed lies in my life and my penance was never to correct it. They were little white lies though, I am not sure what the Priest would say if I confessed some large lie like “I have another wife and I told my current wife I am single”.

My guess is I would not have a penance of saying 5 Our Fathers in that serious case :nope:

 

[Verbum]

HI Hermione,

If we told lies ABOUT someone, something harmful to them, we should certainly do our best to repair the harm, remembering that sometimes stirring up the pot again may do more harm than good.

Verbum