general, all sins by which the honor or character of our neighbor is injured.
4. What is meant by a lie?
To say knowingly and deliberately what is not true, with the intention of deceiving.
5. Is it ever lawful to tell a lie?
No; it is never lawful to tell a lie, neither for our own nor for another's benefit, not even in jest or need; for every lie is essentially opposed to God, who is truth itself.
'A lie is a foul blot in a man' (Ecelus. xx. 26). 'Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord ' (Prov. xii. 22). — Example: Punishment of Ananias and Saphira (Acts v.). Although it is never lawful to tell an untruth, yet we are sometimes bound by charity or official duty to conceal the truth.
6. How do we sin by hypocrisy?
By pretending to be better or more pious than we really are, in order to deceive others.
'Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you are like to whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear to men beautiful, but within are full of dead men 's bones, and of all filthiness. So you also outwardly indeed appear to men just, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity' (Matt. xxiii. 27, 28).
7. How do we sin by detraction?
By revealing the faults of others without any necessity.
8. When is it allowed to reveal the faults of others?
We are allowed, and even bound, to reveal them, 1. When it is for the good of the guilty person; or 2. When it is necessary for preventing a greater evil.
9. What is to be observed in making such revelation?
1. The revelation must proceed from a pure motive of charity, and be made to such only as are able to remedy the evil; 2. The fault is not to be exaggerated, nor is what is uncertain to be represented as certain.
10. How do we sin by calumny or slander?
By imputing faults to our neighbor which he has not at all, or by exaggerating his real faults.
