Questions about lying

[B777]

Hi all,

I have 2 questions about lying.

The first questions is are half truths count as lies? For example, if a person says to his parents that he is going to work, however, in his mind, he plans to go to a party after work, is that count as lying?

The second question is that is lying only counts when you are doing it verbally? For example, when I watch youtube videos on my laptop and one of my family members walk behind me, I switch the tab to my work, is that considered as lying?

Thanks

 

[blackforest]

The first questions is are half truths count as lies? For example, if a person says to his parents that he is going to work, however, in his mind, he plans to go to a party after work, is that count as lying?

Misleading your parents this way is lying by omission, an act of dishonesty.

The second question is that is lying only counts when you are doing it verbally? For example, when I watch youtube videos on my laptop and one of my family members walk behind me, I switch the tab to my work, is that considered as lying?

No. But it’s still dishonesty.

Don’t ever look for loopholes on ways to mislead and be dishonest because the intentions in your heart matter. From CCC 2484:

The gravity of a lie is measured against the nature of the truth it deforms, the circumstances, the intentions of the one who lies, and the harm suffered by its victims. If a lie in itself only constitutes a venial sin, it becomes mortal when it does grave injury to the virtues of justice and charity.