Catholic Doctrine Regarding The Ten Commandments - Eighth Commandment

Eighth Commandment

The Catechism explains that bearing false witness or "speaking a falsehood with the intention of deceiving" encompasses all violations of truth. These violations have degrees of gravity depending on the "intentions of the one who lies and the harms suffered by its victims." Listed as follows, these are:

1. False witness and perjury: statements made publicly in court which obstruct justice by condemning the innocent or exonerating the guilty, or which may increase the punishment of the accused.
2. Rash judgement: believing, without sufficient evidence, statements that accuse another of moral faults.
3. Detraction: the disclosure of another's faults without a valid reason.
4. Calumny: lying to harm a person's reputation and providing opportunity to others to make false judgements concerning them.
5. Flattery: "speech to deceive others for our benefit."
6. Bragging, boasting, or mocking: speech which either only honors oneself or dishonors others.

The Church requires those who have damaged the reputation of another to "make reparation for the untruth they have communicated." However, it does not require a person to reveal a truth to someone who does not have a right to know, and teaches respect for a right to privacy. Priests are prohibited from violating the seal of confession no matter how grave the sin or its impact on society.

Included in the Church teachings of this commandment is the requirement for Christians to bear witness to their faith "without equivocation" in situations that require it. The use of modern media in spreading untruths, by individuals, businesses or governments, is condemned.