Article — Gury-Ballerini, Compendium of Moral Theology (8th ed., 1884)
Article I. On Lying in General
- A lie is speech or signification against the mind, with the will of deceiving. If it is done by nods or by some deed, it is called simulation. Scav. - A threefold genus of lie is distinguished: 1. harmful, by means of which unjust damage is brought upon someone; 2. officious, which is put forth for the sake of one's own or another's utility; 3. jocose, which is done from joke and only for the sake of trifling.
- Principles. - I. A lie properly so called is always intrinsically evil. The reason is, 1. because it is repugnant to right reason to use words against their natural end and institution; 2. because if it were lawful to deceive others in speaking, the order of society, which rests on the mutual commerce of men, would be altogether subverted. Hence, Coloss. 2. 9: "Do not lie to one another." - St. Thom., 2. 2, q. 110, art. 3. - St. Aug., book On Lying and Against Lying.
II. A harmful lie is grave according to the measure of the damage which is brought upon the neighbor; therefore the obligation of repairing the damage follows from it. - Thus all. - St. Thom., ibid., art. 4.
III. An officious lie is per se a venial sin, because grave disorder is not apprehended in it. - Thus all. - A fortiori a jocose lie per se does not exceed venial sin. Indeed, sometimes that which is called a jocose lie is free from altogether every fault; because it is not a lie properly so called, but a joke used for the sake of recreation without any intention of deceiving another, and therefore our definition does not fit it. But this can be admitted only when the adjuncts of things are such that hearers can easily understand that the speaker wishes only to joke. - Thus commonly.
- Resolves. - 1. They do not lie who assert as false what they believe true, but only err. On the contrary, they lie who say what is true, which they think false, because they speak against the mind.
- Tropic, ironic, and hyperbolic expressions are not lies, when they can and customarily are easily taken as such by hearers. Much less parables, which Christ himself used so frequently. Nor are equivocations lies, if they do not prevent the sense of the speaker from being able to be known.
- They do not lie who write fables, or from joke say openly false things, as is manifest.
- To lying are referred simulation, hypocrisy, flattery, and empty boasting, which per se do not exceed venial sin; yet they can become mortal, or rather mortal sin can accede to them on account of another species of sin which supervenes.