Is delaying information a sin?

[JChapel]

I’ve arranged that my current therapist and I would see a priest tomorrow to talk about some religious issues I’m having, one of them being the difficulty of talking about religion with my parents. As soon as I’m able, I fully intend to let my parents know that I went to see a priest and a general overview of the things we talked about but for now they just know that “I have a meeting with my therapist at 3:00”. Is delaying and excluding information like this a sin?

 

[Trishie]

You are using your judgement and we are given the gifts of our intelligence and judgement to use them; and you intend telling your parents at what seems to be the most prudent time. No this isn’t sin.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
1806 Prudence is the virtue that disposes practical reason to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it; “the prudent man looks where he is going.”<65> “Keep sane and sober for your prayers.”<66> Prudence is “right reason in action,” writes St. Thomas Aquinas, following Aristotle.<67> It is not to be confused with timidity or fear, nor with duplicity or dissimulation. It is called auriga virtutum [the charioteer of the virtues]; it guides the other virtues by setting rule and measure. It is prudence that immediately guides the judgement of conscience. The prudent man determines and directs his conduct in accordance with this judgement. With the help of this virtue we apply moral principles to particular cases without error and overcome doubts about the good to achieve and the evil to avoid."

May God guide and bless you

 

[markomalley]

I’ve arranged that my current therapist and I would see a priest tomorrow to talk about some religious issues I’m having, one of them being the difficulty of talking about religion with my parents. As soon as I’m able, I fully intend to let my parents know that I went to see a priest and a general overview of the things we talked about but for now they just know that “I have a meeting with my therapist at 3:00”. Is delaying and excluding information like this a sin?

One other quote from the CCC:

2489 Charity and respect for the truth should dictate the response to every request for information or communication. the good and safety of others, respect for privacy, and the common good are sufficient reasons for being silent about what ought not be known or for making use of a discreet language. the duty to avoid scandal often commands strict discretion. No one is bound to reveal the truth to someone who does not have the right to know it.

The following advice is for somebody who is 18+ (your profile doesn’t discuss your age).

Medical (to include psychological) information is private information. If you are 18+, you should not feel obliged to discuss that information with anybody, including relatives. It is not a sin against the Eighth Commandment to keep confidential what should be confidential.

This is mitigated, on a practical basis, by the degree of support your parents provide you. If you are living under their roof, if they are paying for your medical insurance and/or copays, and so on, they have an increased right to know…for example, they have a right to know that you went to a therapist…as they are going to get the bills. But that’s where the “discreet language” part comes in. They don’t necessarily need to know all of the gory details. And, of course, the Fourth Commandment dictates that you need to show them proper respect, regardless of your age.

If, on the other hand, you are under 18, their right to know these things (under the Fourth Commandment) increases exponentially, as they are legally and morally responsible for you. I don’t know what the relationship is between you and your parents, but hopefully your relationship is solid enough where the generic “we’re working through my problem discussing religion with you” is not going to cause some kind of a blow-up. If it’s not, then there is nothing wrong with using significant discretion in your language.

 

[karoleck]

These are both wonderful answers indeed!

There is another consideration here,there is in the spiritual plane a term called AN INTERNAL FORUM.
This is just a term used that describes what pertains to your soul,those issues can remain hidden, from even your parents.Your concience is yours and I believe that seeing a priest could belong to your spiritual life.

I can give you an example,at Fatima 1917 ainglkiss.com/bvm/Summary.htm
Lucia ,who was one of the three visionaries was told by the investigating priest to reveal to him(under obedience) a secret that Our Lady told her not to tell anyone.Should she tell?Should she just delay it?Is it a sin of disobedience?Like you, she was perplexed! The Holy Spirit came to her rescue ,via a holy priest that she confided in.He told her that "the Kings’secret belongs to the Kings’daughter"or words similar.So she kept this secret as she was instructed by Our Lady to do.

So you can see that there is also The External Forum which applies to the the fact that you are seeing a professional person(maybe your parents can know this fact ,if they need to know or if you wish to reveal this knowledge.)

But like Lucia there is no obligation on your part to tell your parents about the presence of a third party(a priest) who in this case is advising you on the spiritual level(your inner Soul) UNLESS you wish to do so–either now or in the future.

A priest uses this principle of The Interior Forum when he hears a confession and as you know it is sometimes called The Seal Of Confession.This would include any advise a priest might wish to make during the time of the Rite of Reconciliation.Even outside a confessional, a priest uses the professional privacy rules, unless a person agrees to reveal any information to a third party.(at least one would hope so!)

So be at peace and “unload all your troubles to The Lord,since He is looking after you”.I trust that your meeting will be a fruitful one for you.God Bless.

Our Lady of Good Health,pray for us.Amen.