The Ethics and Morality of Lying

[jantoniello]

Peace and blessings.

Recently, an old debate has arisen between myself and another classmate on the ethics and morality of lying. I have held the stance of Augustine and Aquinas in that lying is intrinsically evil, and it is always sinful to tell a lie. The weight of the lie might end venially or in a mortal sin, but it is still sinful. The ethics of lying might be a bit different, to use the old example of lying to save the life of a Jew in your basement from the Nazi. In this case, it would be best to try and deflect the question to the best of the ability of the questioned, such as saying “there are no pigs here!” in order to make the man deceive himself.

The other classmate held the view that it is always sinful to lie, but when it comes down to lying to save the life of another, it is not a lie at all, but rather ourselves appealing to a higher good; that is to say, saving the life of someone by blatantly lying is a higher good and is therefore not lying (which, to me, sounded like “the end justifies the means”) This classmate even held that Aquinas was wrong in saying that it is always sinful to lie.

Can someone help settle this, apart from using Augustine and Aquinas? Does anyone have any other moral theologian’s stance on the matter?

Pax et bonum,
Joseph

 

[Barbkw]

scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a8.htm

Covered in depth in Catechism of the Catholic Church - 8th Commandment

IV. RESPECT FOR THE TRUTH

2488 The right to the communication of the truth is not unconditional. Everyone must conform his life to the Gospel precept of fraternal love. This requires us in concrete situations to judge whether or not it is appropriate to reveal the truth to someone who asks for it.

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.283

2490 The secret of the sacrament of reconciliation is sacred, and cannot be violated under any pretext. "The sacramental seal is inviolable; therefore, it is a crime for a confessor in any way to betray a penitent by word or in any other manner or for any reason."284

2491 Professional secrets - for example, those of political office holders, soldiers, physicians, and lawyers - or confidential information given under the seal of secrecy must be kept, save in exceptional cases where keeping the secret is bound to cause very grave harm to the one who confided it, to the one who received it or to a third party, and where the very grave harm can be avoided only by divulging the truth. Even if not confided under the seal of secrecy, private information prejudicial to another is not to be divulged without a grave and proportionate reason.

2492 Everyone should observe an appropriate reserve concerning persons’ private lives. Those in charge of communications should maintain a fair balance between the requirements of the common good and respect for individual rights. Interference by the media in the private lives of persons engaged in political or public activity is to be condemned to the extent that it infringes upon their privacy and freedom.

283 Cf. 27:16; Prov 25:9-10.
284 CIC, Can. 983 § 1.

 

[Garyjohn2]

The above post seems to speak more to “not revealing the truth” rather than telling a lie.

For example if a nazi asked if you were hiding Jews, the above post would imply you would say “I’m not telling you” or remain silent all together. I don’t see any mention of saying an un-truth though in that particular section of the Catechism…but maybe I’m missing something.