Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time.

My dear Parishioners,
Peace! There are ten (10) “In Brief” articles in the Catechism of the Catholic Church addressing the Eighth Commandment of the Decalogue, ‘You shall not bear false witness.’ The following is a reflection on CCC 2508.
The Eighth Commandment, ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ forbids lying. The Catechism highlights three further aspects which aggravate the lie. When considering moral questions we should always look to the object, the intention and the circumstances, to evaluate our personal responsibility.
To say a falsehood is part of a lie. Saint Thomas Aquinas, O.P. (+1274) can help us to think clearly about these things (cf. Summa Theologiae II-II Q. 110, A. 1–4). Lying is a vice opposed to the truth. Falsehood corresponds to the object of lying. If we say what is in fact false while we think mistakenly that it is true is not to lie, just to be mistaken or in error. There are various ways to consider lies: according to their nature as lies; according to their nature as sins; according to their intended goal. Boasting goes beyond the truth and irony stops short of the truth and both of their nature are lies. Regarding the sinful nature of lies, to intend to injure another with our lies is a “mischievous” lie as distinct from “jocous” lies which are used in view of certain pleasures while “officious” lies are uttered for their usefulness in helping another person from being injured. Mischievous lies are further categorized as being against God and against neighbors. Lies against God are lies in religious doctrine while lies against neighbors are either with the intention to injure only but profit no one or which injure one and profit another. The disordered desire to lie for the sake of lying and deceiving is yet another evil habit. The pagan Aristotle (+322BC) and Saint Augustine (+430) are of one mind when it comes to lying, namely that lying is in itself evil and to be shunned, while truthfulness is good and worthy of praise and every lie is a sin (cf. Nicomachean Ethics IV:7; Contra Mendacium, 4).
To intend to deceive the neighbor is part of a lie. Wanting to deceive our neighbor is the intention of lying.
Each human person has the right to know the truth. The circumstance of lying is base upon our human nature, since we are made for the truth.
Sacred Scripture teaches us that we should not be willing to make any manner of lie (Sirach 7:14). The destruction of liars is foretold in Psalm 5:7 “You hate the wrongdoer, and will bring the liar to destruction.” Saint Peter’s famous lie “I do not know the man” was repented through both tears and martyrdom and rehabilitated by a threefold profession of love (cf. Matthew 26:72–74; Luke 22:60–62; John 21:15–19). It is the Truth that sets us free, and that is but another Name for the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. John 8:32; 14:6).
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr