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If I know of friends drinking alcohol and doing other things underage, is it wrong to not report them?
And, if so, who do I report this to?
Finally, someone fell down and got hurt. They asked me not to tell their parents.
Is it wrong to keep the truth from their parents?
Is snitching sin?
Stephen D.
{ If I know of friends doing these things, should I report them; and should I let their parents know? }
Eric replied:
Stephen —
People have a right to their good reputation (CCC 2479).
III. Offenses Against Truth.
.
.
2479 Detraction and calumny destroy the reputation and honor of one's neighbor. Honor is the social witness given to human dignity, and everyone enjoys a natural right to the honor of his name and reputation and to respect. Thus, detraction and calumny offend against the virtues of justice and charity.
To reveal someone's private faults without good reason to another is actually the sin of detraction. However, revealing someone's wrongdoing is not always sinful; it depends on the intention and the circumstance.
If, for example, it's done out of malice or retribution, that would be wrong.
If it is done to protect someone from harm or correct the sinner, that would be justified.
Say, for example, your friends were in the habit of drinking and driving drunk, it could be a serious obligation for you to report this behavior to someone.
In the first case, it might be better to use fraternal correction, that is, approach one's friends and try to get them to reform their actions.
In the second case, I don't really have enough information to make a judgment.
The first principle, though, is that you should not lie if you are asked. The only option you have is to remain silent or tell the truth. (There are different theories of lying that under grave circumstances might change this, but I don't think that's in play here.) It would depend on why they fell down and how badly they got hurt. You should certainly not be party to a lie or bear false witness if someone asks you directly what happened.
Eric
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