Ttheft for example - stealing five cents is most likely morally on an entirely different level than stealing a million dollars, the matter of five cents is unlikely to constitute a grave/potentially mortal sin in any circumstances. Noboby benefits from lies, because "honesty is the best policy." Is “every lie a sin,” as St. Augustine held some 1,600 years ago? Answer: The Bible is clear that lying is a sin and is displeasing to God. This requires us in concrete situations to judge whether or not it is appropriate to reveal the truth to someone who asks for it.”, I would say that there is a way for you to honor both values. I wonder how long it will be before we stop lying about the Easter Bunny bringing Easter baskets to the children? Is a white lie a MORTAL sin (which is the only kind that needs sacramental confession)? Sin is a big deal. I don't want to hurt her feelings. As for the Easter bunny - firstly I was never told rubbish about the Easter bunny as a child. On the other hand, I have heard that Pius XII permitted, if not actually positively endorsing, the forging of documents to enable Jews to escape Italy during WWII. But a lie is only a venial sin, unless any one of the fonts of morality is gravely disordered. The catechism does NOT say the latter is permissible, so I certainly wouldn’t go around presuming that it is. He now plays basketball in a community league and is 6’1". There is no commandment which says "thou shalt not lie". Now I admit the father could have been more specific as to why he felt his son shouldn’t carry the bushel basket, but that wasn’t the case here. I’ve always wondered: What’s the difference between a “white lie” and a “mental reservation?” My understanding is that our Jesuit brothers are fond of supporting the morality of “mental reservations” but I’ve never understood the distinction. Additionally, no lie has been committed in the instance where one is playing a sport and “fake another out,” or to mislead another in a strategy game. Got to run…Of course I could always look for the end of the rainbow and get the whole bag!! A $100 gift allows us to present award-winning photos of Catholic life in our neighborhoods. He himself does not ever lie. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled, : The views and opinions expressed in these forums do not necessarily reflect those of Catholic Answers. Why is lying so dangerous. A lie is a definitely a sin, and certainly the intention behind a white lie could be the greater sin. As children, we sometimes had difficulty understanding where the line was. Have the rules changed on the sacrament of baptism? The Prophet said: "A liar is not one who tries to bring reconciliation amongst people and speaks good (in order to avert dispute), or he conveys good." I know that I can only work part time for her or I would go out of my mind. In addition, Jesus never told a lie. #supportcatholicphilly a[href*="acceptiva"]{background: #0033ff; top:0; left:0;padding: 13px 38px; border-radius: 15px; font-weight: bold; margin: 20px auto; display: inline-block; font-family: sans-serif;letter-spacing: 0.7px; color: #FFF; border-width: 2px; border-style: solid; background-color: #0033ff;text-align: center; border-top-color: #FFF; border-left-color: #EEE; border-right-color: #AAA; border-bottom-color: #AAA; box-shadow: 1px 1px 2px #333; transition: all 0.1s;} I believe a white lie told not to hurt someone’s feelings is just a venial sin. Her mind is back in the days when things were much less expensive, so I resort to making up a price, smaller than the actual one. Why can’t Easter be about Christ’s resurrection instead of bunnies and chocolate? For official apologetics resources please visit. Coloring lies, whether white or black, does not come from the goodness of God. n. An often trivial, diplomatic or well-intentioned untruth. At Christ’s birth, ‘the soul felt its worth’, Frontline heroes model unconditional love in action, Advent Week 4: Jesus always with, and within, us, Advent Week 4: Come Lord Jesus! So do I go to HELL for lying. A lie is a lie and it's sin, no matter what color we try to put on it. But a surprise b-day party would not be, b/c your intention isn’t that of deceit, per se. Catholic teaching does not permit lying in circumstances where the person being lied to are (supposedly) not entitled to receive the truth from us. (In fact, I have to take anti-anxiety meds when I am with her, or I couldn’t do it at all. My wife tried to throw a surprise party for a friend and one of the invitees spoiled it because "she can't lie". When in doubt, be kind. Jew's have a saying: "A half truth is a full lie." I know, a sin, is a sin, is a sin, is a sin. Are these sins to be confessed as sins against God? (City of origin withheld.). The man who was the godfather practices no religion at all, and the godmother — although baptized as a Catholic — does not now practice her faith. The current Catechism of the Catholic Church would seem to take the more strict view — that a lie is never justified. Is that a sin? God cannot lie. I wonder if a mother told her small son (not talking yet), not to touch the electric heater because it is hot, when it really wasn’t. All sins are seen by God, and one day we will all be asked to answer for our actions (2 Corinthians 5:10). I hope we all learned something. That’s two pretty big heavyweights on that side of the equation. You may have done it for a good reason--a white lie--but you still lied. This was made evident in the condemnation of the serpent's lie in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3) and God's judgment upon him. Orenstein defined white lies as “omitting the complete truth to spare someone’s feelings.” A white lie is an innocuous lie. Is a white lie a MORTAL sin (which is the only kind that needs sacramental confession)? I think that it is OK to lie to her and tell her that she looks just fine and that she is the most beautiful person there, even if she is not. My goal in life, at this point, is to help my mother to be happy. As children, we sometimes had difficulty understanding where the line was. 2483) — which offered some “wiggle room” for assessing the questioner’s state of mind. Interesting question. I don’t think you are required to tell her the truth in this case. I do believe children should be children as long as they can be, or at least until they become of the age of understanding. Lying is intrinsically evil, and so God who is Truth is always offended by a lie, regardless of intention or circumstances. 2488 — opting for silence or discreet language rather than an outright untruth — says, “The right to the communication of the truth is not unconditional. Most of us know when we commit a sin by examining the conscience the good Lord gave us. In fact, she said, sometimes, a white lie is just being kind. If either of us lies to the other, we are committed to confessing the lie within three days. An example of this might be Nazis looking for Jews in your house so that they can send them off to the concentration camps. A lie is a lie; it is a sin; in the Catholic Church it needs to be confessed. Are all sins the same? A white lie is considered a Venial Sin because technically it does not violate the Commandment not to bear False Witness against your neighbor, in that you accuse him of a crime or sin he did not commit. Does anyone who asks you a question regardless of who they are and what they ask deserve the answer? I don’t know if smoking will stop a person’s growth or not - and I’m not sure if a child of 2 or 3 would understand Christ’s Resurrection as suggested. Like if my girlfriend says, "Does my butt look fat in these jeans?" A small, automated monthly donation means you can support us continually and easily. With theft it’s unclear where exactly the line lies between venial sins such as the theft of the five cents and clearly grave ones such as the million dollars. A deliberate statement knowing the facts and then saying the opposite of what one knows to be true, or thinks to be true, is probably a sin; but perhaps the father knew that his son might be able to do it, but was afraid he might get hurt and that was his way of saying what he did…. Same with lies - I would find myself scratching my head to set a definite line between lies which are venial at most (and arguably no sin at all), and those which are grave sins requiring confession. When is a lie considered to be a sin? During the current coronavirus crisis, you can help CatholicPhilly.com deliver the kind of news people need to know about the Catholic Church, especially in the Philadelphia region, and the world in which we live ― every day. The Catholic Faith definitively teaches that lying is intrinsically evil and therefore always immoral. Honestly praise something, or be silent; but do not lie! American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. That’s another argument for the idea that we never should think that we are compelled to tell a lie. Experts gave eight guidelines to know when a white lie is appropriate and when it isn't. Perhaps my most common lie is to tell myself I can do things in less time than I actually can. Whether it constitutes a grave sin is open to determination. If a husband or wife asks if it is okay to invite their parents over for … Difference Between a ‘White Lie’ and Lying Growing up it seemed ‘white lies’ were okay while lying was a sin. Lying is defined as “making an untrue statement with the intent to deceive.” A white lie is an untrue statement, but it is usually considered unimportant because it does not cover up a serious wrongdoing. Is that wrong? Sometimes I buy little gifts for my mother, and she always asks me how much something costs — since she doesn’t want me to spend a lot on her. Philadelphia, PA 19103, PREVIOUS: The Christian’s mission: to point to Christ, source of life. The only stipulation (Canon 855) is that the name chosen should not be “foreign to Christian sensibility.”, Prior to 1983, the church did require that the child be given a “Christian” name (e.g., “Faith” or “Christian”) or the name of a saint. If we are good Christians, we know what sin is and what it isn’t. Your gift will strengthen the fabric of our entire Catholic community. Or make your donation by check: However, all lies, even when not gravely disordered, are sinful. Everyone must conform his life to the Gospel precept of fraternal love. Their parents should know when this age arrives in their own children. We could go round and round on this, but I think we done spent our serious responses as well as our humorous responses. It says "Thou shalt not bear false witness", which is a very specific and heinous sort of lie designed to condemn an innocent man. Recently I attended a Catholic christening where neither the first nor middle name of the child being baptized was the name of a saint. A $20 gift lets us obtain solid faith formation resources that can deepen your spirituality and knowledge of the faith. Veritatis Splendor: If acts are intrinsically evil, a good intention or particular circumstances can diminish their evil, but they cannot remove it. Like if your wife asks you if you think she is fat I think it is fine to respond “no”. Your question — or the answer, at least — is more complicated than it may first seem. While a lie or exaggeration may result in good, the lie is still evil and will still separates us from God if we do not repent of our lie. A lie is grave matter if it causes grave harm, if you deny your faith, or if you commit perjury by it…. #scppad{padding: 20px 40px; z-index: 2; position: relative;} There has to be some room for tact. I guess the sinfulness of any lie depends on the circumstances, much like many other sins. The other woman is selfish, mean and miserable. I wonder what my confessor would say if I said in the confessional that I lied to my 5 year old son by saying not to go out in the dark because a boogy man might get him? In the case of diverting an assassin, it probably falls into the definition of a venial sin A by allowing charity to exist, even though it offends and wounds it. No, it's not a sin and please don't be this person. Women are over sensitive, be over careful of what you say. The first sin in this world involved a lie told to Eve. That was my mother’s way of keeping us indoors. In the example given, I think it was needless to say that one was not feeling well when they did not want to play a round of golf and those it was told to did deserve the answer. Mental reservation is sometimes permitted. Many take the permission of the Prophet to lie in three exceptional cases in the wrong way as a justification for white lies. I could go on but I just seen a leprachaun go across the street carrying a bag of gold coins. Is a white lie a sin? I’m sure some who listened to Jesus might’ve been under the mistaken impression that the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son or the servants with the talents were real too. I recall my Aunt telling my nephew that if he continues smoking, it will stunt his growth. I think it comes down to how one defines what a lie is. Bible Answer: There is no such thing as a “little sin” or a “greater sin.” Before God a sin is a sin. Wherefore a lie of this kind, considered in itself, is not a mortal sin. Boy, what a lier my Aunt was! #supportcatholicphilly{margin-top:30px;border-radius: 10px;border:1px solid #DDD; position:relative;} Even the catechism itself hints at this struggle: No. (And crossing your fingers behind your back doesn’t make it OK!) (In my own view, it is still preferable that parents choose a saint’s name, because as the child grows that particular saint might serve as an inspiration and example.). A white lie thus is not a harmful lie, and we often do it out of entertainment because we’re bored and sometimes need something to pass the time, or to merely raise our tacit (no irony intended) social … #supportcatholicphilly a[href*="acceptiva"]:hover {background-color: #07269f;border-style: solid;border-width: 2px;border-top-color: #444;border-left-color: #444;border-right-color: #AAA;border-bottom-color: #CCC;position: relative;top: 3px;box-shadow: inset 1px 1px 2px rgba(22,22,22,0.4);color: #ccc;left: 1px;} Then she gets real mad at you for the whole evening? If I was her, I would be mad because to me it sound like you are saying she’s fat. I have to admit I wrote the previous posting with tongue and cheek. In any event the Easter bunny is along the lines of pretending to have imaginary tea parties (with real crockery, mind you) with the kids’ dolls or telling them about Cinderella or what have you - fantasy, which imaginative kids may take as being real. white lie synonyms, white lie pronunciation, white lie translation, English dictionary definition of white lie. A white lie will always be a lie, and as we've already said, it is Satan who is the father of lies. Please join in the church's vital mission of communications by offering a gift in whatever amount that you can ― a single gift of $40, $50, $100, or more, or a monthly donation. In situations such as those you describe, the conflict is between abstract moral reasoning (being able to trust in the word of another is essential to human discourse) and the valid intuition that feelings should not be hurt needlessly. But was that a sin, made to a 5 year old, and was it a sin against God? Lying is a sin and separates us from God because God is sinless and does not lie (Titus 1:2). No lie is harmless and every lie is the color of sin…black. I think I’ll leave that one alone. Technically only one sponsor is required (Canon 873); so if one godparent were a practicing Catholic, the other “godparent” at the ceremony could be a baptized non-Catholic, but that person would then be listed in the registry as a “witness” rather than a sponsor. I will say both Augustine and Aquinas seem to have been of the opinion that a lie, by its very nature, is certainly a sin, an offence against God who is truth itself and thus would be offended by any deliberate untruth. Whether lying can ever be justified (and the matter of “white lies”) has engaged Christian moralists in discussion and lively debate since the time of St. Augustine more than 1,500 years ago. This one has been the subject of much theological debate. Let us all formulate good Christian consciences, learn Christ’s teachings to the best of our abilities, and, when in doubt about a teaching, confer with a Priest or, if you believe it to be a sin, bring it up at the Confessional. For the very fact that you term it 'white lie', you already consider it a sin(subconsciously) and it is therefore sin to the person who terms it as such but to someone else, that same white lie might not be a sin at all-no standards set in stone here. They remain “irremediably” evil acts; per se and in themselves they are not capable of being ordered to God and to the good of the person… Consequently, circumstances or intentions can never transform an act intrinsically evil by virtue of its object into an act “subjectively” good or defensible as a choice. I'm secure in the belief that I know the difference between lying about my weight and lying on my income tax return. From Annunciation to Christmas, Already united with Jesus, we open our darkness to his light, Readings of the Holy Mass – Fourth Sunday of Advent, By Father Kenneth Doyle • Catholic News Service • Posted January 17, 2017, Q. I am a caregiver for my elderly mother and also for another woman, who is 95. For example, if you are at a party with your wife and she asks you how she looks and you tell her that she looks fat and awful and she has horrible circles under her eyes making her look like a witch. Can you please explain? She didn't come off as a good person, just someone trying to act "holier than thou". The church’s current Code of Canon Law (which has been in effect since 1983) does not require that a child be baptized with the name of a saint. For example, if I lie to my boss to try to hide some other wrong I did (taking work supplies home, coming into work late, neglecting my duties…), then my white lie is more serious because it is made in conjunction with another wrong. You communicate something by words or other means. If you don’t lie a little about this, then you will have to face the terrible consequences for the next few days or even weeks. If not, a saint’s name was added to the name chosen by the parents, and that second name was recorded in the parish baptismal registry as well. A friend asked me if a white lie was a sin against God. I think it does but lie and say, "No way!" The line between white lie and plain old lie is clear to me. priest, Pope on Christmas: Share hope, promote peace, give vaccine to all, 2019-2020 Audited Financial Statements of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. So I think that the teaching of the Catholic Church is wrong in this particular case where you have the good intention of being a gentleman and a charming husband to your wife, it is OK to lie a little in that case. How badly am I sinning? As regards the end in view, a lie may be contrary to charity, through being told with the purpose of injuring God, and this is always a mortal sin, for it is opposed to religion; or in order to injure one's neighbor, in his person, his possessions or … Questions may be sent to Father Kenneth Doyle at askfatherdoyle@gmail.com and 30 Columbia Circle Dr. Albany, New York 12203. I hope we all agree here on this forum that we have been, sort of, building a mountain out of a mole hill. That is where it comes for me. There are lies and there are lies (white ones, that is). The first sin in this world involved a lie told to Eve. A $50 gift enables us to cover a news event in a local parish, school or Catholic institution. Such is part of the game and is not deceptive, because the opponent should realize that it is part of the game. Rather than making up a false price, I would tell your mother that the gift you purchased for her was “reasonably priced, not expensive.”, But I would be even more direct with your 95-year-old friend: Rather than fabricating a false excuse, tell her that you can’t work the extra hours she wants because you have “other family responsibilities.” (One of those responsibilities is surely keeping yourself sane. (Albany, New York), A. I believe God, with his compassion, might just pass that off with a little bit of a chuckle. I don’t believe that was a deliberate lie, but a statement made after considering the strength of his son and the weight of the bushel. God knows what we know and don’t know and He also knows our intentions for saying some of the things we do. #xsupportcatholicphilly:before{ position: absolute; width: 100%; height: 100%; top: 0px; content: ""; opacity: 0.8; z-index: 1; background-color: #FFF; } In His holiness, He is incapable of lying. Additionally, there is something called mental reservation that SHOULD be used in order to act charitably…for instance, one would twist one’s own words to make it appear that he is NOT hiding Jews, even if he is, if he is defending them from Nazi oppression. This is one reason confession exists, so you can give the priest all the necessary information to advise you on the sinfulness of an act in your particular circumstances. Define white lie. Not some liars, but all liars . What if a son tells his father that that he could carry that bushel of apples into the house easily, and you say, " No way; it is too heavy for you, you can’t do it". Therefore, telling person A that fruit tastes good if you hate fruit, would possibly be a lie if you believed that fruit would not taste good to person A. From the earliest of times, lying was seen as sinful. ), She often asks me to work extra hours, and I find myself making up stories to explain why I can’t do it. 222 N. 17th Street My goal in life, at this point, is to help my mother to be happy. Mind you concealing the truth where permissible (ie not giving your exact age when someone asks, responding instead with ‘I’m somewhere between 10 and 100’) is a different thing morally from telling a falsehood (ie being 35 but saying you are 30 instead). But, perhaps in many eyes, the Father made a statement that he could not do it and the son went and did it, so that constitues lying to the son Did that lie constitute a sin?. The Ten Commandments given to Moses includes: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). SheI just wanted to teach him a lesson that may prevent him to receive a burn in the future. General rule of thumb - if in doubt confess! In other words, a venial lie becomes a mortal lie because it … or is it a sin by just not telling the truth? Is telling a lie the same as murder according to God? A white lie is deceptive, but it may also be polite or diplomatic at the same time. Budgets are tight at this time, and CatholicPhilly's is no different than those of most families. How to use white lie in a sentence. However, this cannot be used under oath, on rightful authority (the Nazi’s in this case would not be rightful authority), and it must be done with a good intention. I would have to disagree with this in certain limited circumstances. Pope removes management of finances, property from Secretariat of State, Christmas levels divisions by lifting all, says West Phila. But in 1997, when the catechism was revised and the official Latin text was published, the part about “the right to know” was dropped and the text now says simply, “to lie is to speak or act against the truth in order to lead someone into error.”. It’s like a mother telling her 5 year old son not to play outside in the dark because a boogy man might get him - I heard that when I was a child. (I had to do this at Christmas time, or else she would have ruined my family’s holiday.) Lying is listed as a sin in the Ten Commandments: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16). NEXT: Should you pray to saints according to their ‘specialties’? SIN IS A STATE, a CONDITION that we're ALL IN but b/c jesus spilled innocent blood over everyone we can repent and get relationship wtih God so a white lie... sure it … We probably often say things that may seem like a sin, but that wasn’t our intentions. As we matured, we realized there most definitely was a difference. 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