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“You shall not bear false witness nor lie” (Ex 20:16)
Truth, speech, and coherence in the Christian life
1. The Eighth Commandment: much more than “not lying”
When we hear the Eighth Commandment, many people automatically think: “don’t tell lies.” But the moral tradition of the Church teaches us that this commandment is far broader and deeper. It is not limited to avoiding an occasional falsehood, but rather protects the sacred value of truth, justice in speech, and charity in communication.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains this clearly:
“The eighth commandment forbids misrepresenting the truth in relations with others” (CCC §2464).
Telling the truth is not merely a moral obligation: it is a requirement of Christian love. Christ Himself presents Himself as “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (Jn 14:6). Therefore, living in falsehood distances us from Christ, even when the lie seems small, socially acceptable, or “useful.”
In a culture saturated with misinformation, half-truths, emotional manipulation, social media, and ideological narratives, the Eighth Commandment becomes urgent and prophetic.
2. Truth: a moral good, not an opinion
Catholic moral theology clearly distinguishes between:
- Objective truth
- The intention of the heart
- The harm caused to one’s neighbor
Not every truth must always be spoken (prudence), but it is never permissible to lie. A lie is defined not only by the damage caused, but by the deliberate intention to deceive.
“A lie consists in speaking a falsehood with the intention of deceiving” (CCC §2482).
Moreover, the Eighth Commandment protects:
- Good reputation
- Honor
- Justice
- Social trust
- Ecclesial communion
For this reason, sins against this commandment are not only sins of speech, but also of thought, omission, culpable silence, and indirect dissemination.
3. Sins Against the Eighth Commandment
An exhaustive guide for the examination of conscience
What follows is a broad and meticulous list, explicitly designed so that a traditional Catholic may examine his or her conscience deeply, without scrupulosity, but with sincerity before God.
A. Lying (in all its forms)
- Deliberately lying, even in small matters
- Telling “white lies” without a grave reason
- Lying to avoid correction or responsibility
- Lying to appear good or preserve one’s image
- Lying out of convenience or laziness
- Lying out of fear of what others may think
- Lying to obtain economic or social benefit
- Lying at work, in studies, or in official procedures
- Lying in confession or concealing mortal sins
- Lying within marriage or family life
- Lying through calculated silence that leads others into error
- Living a double life, presenting a false image of oneself
B. False appearances and hypocrisy
- Pretending to possess virtues one does not practice
- Displaying outward religiosity without inner coherence
- Acting differently depending on the audience
- Seeking spiritual approval without real conversion
- Scandalizing others through incoherent living
- Harshly judging others while hiding one’s own sins
C. False testimony
- Giving false testimony against another person
- Exaggerating facts to harm someone
- Remaining silent about the truth when one has the duty to speak
- Manipulating testimonies or versions of events
- Making accusations without evidence
- Defaming others in civil or ecclesial contexts
- Participating in unjust or ideologically motivated accusations
D. Calumny
(Saying false things about someone)
- Attributing sins or evil intentions that do not exist
- Repeating unverified rumors
- Spreading false accusations
- Damaging another’s reputation out of revenge or resentment
- Calumniating authorities, priests, or laypeople
- Failing to repair the damage after discovering the falsehood
E. Detraction
(Revealing true faults without just cause)
- Revealing the sins of others without necessity
- Speaking ill of others “because it’s true”
- Publicizing defects that others do not need to know
- Revealing confidences received in trust
- Exposing past faults that have already been forgiven
- Participating in gossip even when it is true
F. Rash judgment
- Thinking badly of others without evidence
- Attributing bad intentions without certainty
- Habitual suspicion
- Always interpreting actions negatively
- Internally condemning others without knowing the facts
- Failing to give others the benefit of the doubt
G. Gossip and murmuring
- Speaking about others without charity
- Taking pleasure in another’s loss of reputation
- Sharing rumors in informal conversations
- Passive participation without correction
- Creating division in families, parishes, or groups
- Justifying gossip as “venting”
H. Sinful use of social media and digital platforms
- Spreading false or unverified news
- Sharing harmful content for ideological reasons
- Publicly attacking individuals
- Humiliating, mocking, or canceling others
- Spreading scandal
- Using anonymity to harm others
- Manipulating information to gain followers
- Silencing uncomfortable truths for personal interest
I. Culpable silence and omission of the truth
- Remaining silent when one must defend the innocent
- Failing to correct one’s neighbor out of human respect
- Allowing injustice out of convenience
- Failing to report grave abuses when one has the duty to do so
- Consenting to lies out of fear
J. Failure to make reparation
- Failing to apologize after lying
- Failing to repair damaged reputations
- Minimizing the harm caused
- Justifying lies after the fact
- Refusing to publicly correct falsehoods
4. Healing, truth, and confession
The Eighth Commandment reminds us that words have the power of life and death. Every lie, every unjust judgment, every act of gossip breaks something in communion.
But there is also good news ✨
Christ is the physician of souls.
In confession:
- Truth sets us free
- The heart is reordered
- Speech is purified
“The truth will set you free” (Jn 8:32)
Preparing a thorough examination of conscience is not an exercise in guilt, but an act of love for truth and for one’s neighbor.
5. Final prayer
Lord Jesus Christ,
Eternal Truth of the Father,
purify my words,
heal my memory,
guard my tongue,
and give me a sincere heart.May I never use truth without charity,
nor charity without truth.
Amen.
