When does lying become a mortal sin?

[SebMurphy]

Hi
I was just wondering when lying becomes a mortal sin and if you could tell me if my lie was a mortal sin:

I do a paper round. In a few weeks, I am going away for a few days so I was planning to book my paper round off for that. However, I wanted more time off so I could just relax at home so I booked the whole week off. They asked me if I was on holiday between the 24th and 31st and I said yes even thought I will only be on holiday between the 27th and 31st. Was this lie a mortal sin?

 

[Kay_Cee]

In order for a sin to be mortal, three conditions must exist:

1. It must be grave matter
2. You must know it is grave matter
3. You must consent to doing it anyway

This doesn’t sound like it fulfills those requirements, especially #2, since you have to ask.

I’m not familiar with the term “on holiday.” Does it mean you have to travel elsewhere? Here in the US we just say we’re “on vacation.” I have occasionally spent vacations at home.

If by what you told your employer you’re somehow getting more time off than you’re entitled to (and, in effect, therefore stealing from him), yes, that’s a sin. If, however, it’s time off you’re entitled to, it’s nobody’s business how you spend it, including by relaxing at home.

 

[thistle]

Hi
I was just wondering when lying becomes a mortal sin and if you could tell me if my lie was a mortal sin:

I do a paper round. In a few weeks, I am going away for a few days so I was planning to book my paper round off for that. However, I wanted more time off so I could just relax at home so I booked the whole week off. They asked me if I was on holiday between the 24th and 31st and I said yes even thought I will only be on holiday between the 27th and 31st. Was this lie a mortal sin?

CCC 2482 “A lie consists in speaking a falsehood with the intention of deceiving.” The Lord denounces lying as the work of the devil: “You are of your father the devil, . . . there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

CCC 2483 Lying is the most direct offense against the truth. To lie is to speak or act against the truth in order to lead someone into error. By injuring man’s relation to truth and to his neighbor, a lie offends against the fundamental relation of man and of his word to the Lord.

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.

CCC 2485 By its very nature, lying is to be condemned. It is a profanation of speech, whereas the purpose of speech is to communicate known truth to others. The deliberate intention of leading a neighbor into error by saying things contrary to the truth constitutes a failure in justice and charity. The culpability is greater when the intention of deceiving entails the risk of deadly consequences for those who are led astray.

CCC 2486 Since it violates the virtue of truthfulness, a lie does real violence to another. It affects his ability to know, which is a condition of every judgment and decision. It contains the seed of discord and all consequent evils. Lying is destructive of society; it undermines trust among men and tears apart the fabric of social relationships.

 

[Kay_Cee]

1. You must consent to doing it anyway

Sorry, I should have said you must *fully *consent to doing it anyway. If one consents to doing something because of threat or duress, that lessens the severity of the sin.

 

[Lief_Erikson]

Thistle, thanks for the quotes.

My question is about lies spoken in good cause. For instance, the angel Raphael in the Book of Tobit misled Tobit about his identity. Rahab was praised for hiding the spies- and she covered for them by lying. Elijah led an Aramean army God had blinded into Samaria and got them all imprisoned there through lying to them.

CCC 2484 might arguably excuse these kinds of lies, because it says that “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.”

The lie of Raphael did not harm anyone. Rahab’s lie saved lives, rather than harming them. Elijah’s lie, following directly after God’s miracle and taking advantage of it, harmed the Arameans, but they were Israel’s enemies and clearly God’s enemies.

So would this legitimize lying under some circumstances?