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Steven wrote:

Hi, guys —

I had gone into my bathroom to pray the Rosary; I was not using the bathroom while praying, and got a call from my mother on my cell phone. I put down my Rosary, and answered it.

She asked me what I was doing and I told her that I was in the bathroom. Then she asked me if that was why I hadn't answered the home phone and I said, yeah.

  • Did I tell a lie; and if so, was it a venial or mortal sin?

Steven
  { Did I tell a lie; and if so, was it a venial sin or a mortal sin? }

Mike replied:

Dear Steven,

<Scratching my head>

  • Why would you pray in the bathroom?
  • Wouldn't praying in your bedroom be more fitting?

If you were truthful to your mother, you did not lie. Only you and the Lord know if you were truthful, or gave an answer that was intended to mislead for some reason.

For a sin to be mortal it must include all three conditions:

  1. It must be a grave matter.
  2. We need sufficient time to reflect upon the sin we are about to commit and then must make the decision to sin anyway.
  3. We must give full consent of the will to commit the sin.

This is probably a venial sin, though I would encourage both you and your mother to go to Confession on a regular basis. There is a priest at most Catholic parishes on Saturday afternoons for this.

The bishops of the United States have recommended Catholic families go to Confession at least once a month. If one has greater spiritual responsibilities and is not scrupulous, going to Confession every other week or weekly (as Pope St. John Paul II did) may be appropriate.

These words from the Catechism may also be helpful.

III. Offenses Against Truth.

2482 "A lie consists in speaking a falsehood with the intention of deceiving."

(St. Augustine, De mendacio 4,5:PL 40:491)

The Lord denounces lying as the work of the devil:

"You are of your father the devil, . . . there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

(John 8:44)

2483 Lying is the most direct offense against the truth. To lie is to speak or act against the truth in order to lead someone into error. By injuring man's relation to truth and to his neighbor, a lie offends against the fundamental relation of man and of his word to the Lord.

2484 The gravity of a lie is measured against the nature of the truth it deforms, the circumstances, the intentions of the one who lies, and the harm suffered by its victims. If a lie in itself only constitutes a venial sin, it becomes mortal when it does grave injury to the virtues of justice and charity.

2485 By its very nature, lying is to be condemned. It is a profanation of speech, whereas the purpose of speech is to communicate known truth to others. The deliberate intention of leading a neighbor into error by saying things contrary to the truth constitutes a failure in justice and charity. The culpability is greater when the intention of deceiving entails the risk of deadly consequences for those who are led astray.

2486 Since it violates the virtue of truthfulness, a lie does real violence to another. It affects his ability to know, which is a condition of every judgment and decision. It contains the seed of discord and all consequent evils. Lying is destructive of society; it undermines trust among men and tears apart the fabric of social relationships.

2487 Every offense committed against justice and truth entails the duty of reparation, even if its author has been forgiven. When it is impossible publicly to make reparation for a wrong, it must be made secretly. If someone who has suffered harm cannot be directly compensated, he must be given moral satisfaction in the name of charity. This duty of reparation also concerns offenses against another's reputation. This reparation, moral and sometimes material, must be evaluated in terms of the extent of the damage inflicted. It obliges in conscience.


The Eighth Commandment — In Brief.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (Exodus 20:16; cf. Deuteronomy 5:20)

2508 Lying consists in saying what is false with the intention of deceiving one's neighbor.

2509 An offense committed against the truth requires reparation.


Hope this helps,

Mike
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