A lie “consists in speaking a falsehood with the intention of deceiving”. Lying is “the most direct offense against the truth”, speaking or acting against it “in order to lead into error someone who has the right to know the truth”. Its gravity “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”, and a lie venial in itself “becomes mortal when it does grave injury to the virtues of justice and charity”. Whatever its gravity, “by its very nature, lying is to be condemned”, being “a profanation of speech”.
Glossa Catholica shows its pages only in a browser with JavaScript turned on. The colophon says where each text here comes from.