white lies

[dooman]

White lies, are they permissable?

Or are they like white magic, it says its good on the tin but inside its all dark.

White Lies: Is this lying altogether, same as a normal lie?

Opinions please…

thanks in advance

Mark

 

[Bookcat]

Lies …are well lies.

So no they are not good.

Though there can be ways of using language…that is artful but not a lie…

Wife “Do you think I am fat?”

Husband “Have you seen my belly? I do not think I am even allowed to answer such a question” “Where are the Kids?”…

 

[Ter1]

In the interview book “God and the World” Cardinal Ratzinger is asked about this, using the specific example of getting someone to say you’re not available to take a phone call. His response went something like: It is, of course, better to tell the truth, but there are occasions when someone will use such a lie, he himself has done it on occasion. However, one must be careful since a lie makes it easier to tell another until one is living lies rather than truth.

In other words, it is better to tell the truth but don’t get hung up on little white lies, particularly those suggested by charity.

 

[Bookcat]

In the interview book “God and the World” Cardinal Ratzinger is asked about this, using the specific example of getting someone to say you’re not available to take a phone call. His response went something like: It is, of course, better to tell the truth, but there are occasions when someone will use such a lie, he himself has done it on occasion. However, one must be careful since a lie makes it easier to tell another until one is living lies rather than truth.

In other words, it is better to tell the truth but don’t get hung up on little white lies, particularly those suggested by charity.

I actually have seen this as an example of a mental reservation…of use of commonly understood language in society…not a lie. It means “he is not available to speak to you” …“he does not wish to speak to you at the moment”…everyone understands when someone says “he is not available” etc on the phone that this is what is being communicated…

Now if he asked “Is he alive”? and he said no…well that is a good example of a lie Or if he just answers “he died years ago”…

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.282

 

[Frere]

white lies are sins. If we are called to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect, I don’t see a room for white lies. God is light and in Him there is no darkness.
Christianity is a religion of the truth.
We believe that the truth is the Word of God: Jesus Christ.
Christians saints would rather die rather than tell even a tiny lie.
We are supposed to suffer if necessary for the truth always.

God is love and truth. Charity and truth can not be separated, so lying in the name of charity is actually blasphemy. It is violence to God, it is cruxifying Jesus who is the truth.

Strangely enough, there is a religion which is founded on white lies: Islam.
It believes that God himself made a white lie: Deceived people into believing that they cruxified Jesus while He snatched him into heaven, for he could not let him die because the loved him very much.
Without surprise then, white lies are aprouved in Islam. A man can lie to his wife if it is necessary to save a marriage. This is a good example of lying for ‘charity’. This is also a good example of lack of faith in truth. A Christian always hope. Christians believe in death but also in resurrection. They know that everlasting life is on the side of truth. So those who persevere, though they may suffer and die, they will rise again.

God bless