Part Three: Life in Christ › Section Two of Part Three: The Ten Commandments ›› CHAPTER 2: You Shall Love Your Neighbour ››› Article 8: The Eight Commandment

› IN BRIEF

Questions and Answers

2526. What is the eighth commandment? (CCC 2464) The eighth commandment is: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.”
2527. What does the eighth commandment forbid? (CCC 2464) The eighth commandment forbids misrepresenting the truth in our relations with others.
2528. Why are the faithful called to live in the truth? (CCC 2465) The faithful are called to live in the truth, because God Himself is true and the source of all truth.
2529. In which words does Christ teach the unconditional love of truth? (CCC 2466) Christ teaches the unconditional love of truth in the words: “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes or No.’”
2530. What is truthfulness? (CCC 2468) Truthfulness is uprightness in human action and speech and in guarding against duplicity, dissimulation and hypocrisy.
2531. Where does Christ say that He came to bear witness to the truth? (CCC 2471) Christ says before Pilate that He came to bear witness to the truth (Jn 18).
2532. What is witness? (CCC 2472) Witness is an act of justice that establishes the truth or makes it known.
2533. What is martyrdom? (CCC 2473) Martyrdom is giving supreme witness to the truth of the Faith unto death.
2534. What are the acts of the Martyrs? (CCC 2474) The acts of the Martyrs are the collected records of those who witnessed their faith unto death.
2535. What is the most direct offence against truth? (CCC 2475-2487) The most direct offence against truth is lying.
2536. What is false witness? (CCC 2476) False witness is a statement in court contrary to the truth.
2537. What is perjury? (CCC 2476) Perjury is a statement under oath contrary to the truth.
2538. What attitudes does respect for the reputation of persons forbid? (CCC 2477) Respect for the reputation of persons forbids:
1. rash judgment
2. detraction
3. calumny.
2539. What is rash judgment? (CCC 2477) Rash judgment is when somebody, even tacitly, assumes as true, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbour.
2540. What is detraction? (CCC 2477) Detraction is the disclosure of another’s faults and failings to persons who did not know them, without objectively valid reason.
2541. What is calumny? (CCC 2477) Calumny is to harm the reputation of others by remarks contrary to the truth.
2542. How can rash judgment be avoided? (CCC 2478) Rash judgment can be avoided by interpreting his neighbour’s thoughts, words and deeds in a favourable way.
2543. What do detraction and calumny destroy? (CCC 2479) Detraction and calumny destroy the reputation and honour of one’s neighbour.
Honour is the social witness given to human dignity.
2544. When is adulation a grave sin? (CCC 2480) Adulation is a grave sin when it makes one an accomplice in another’s vices or grave sins.
2545. Under what circumstances is adulation a venial sin? (CCC 2480) Adulation is a venial sin when it only seeks to be agreeable, to avoid evil, to meet a need or to obtain legitimate advantages.
2546. When is irony a sin? (CCC 2481) Irony is a sin when it is aimed at disparaging someone by maliciously caricaturing some aspect of his behaviour.
2547. How does Christ relate the lie to the devil? (CCC 2482) Christ relates the lie to the devil by saying that the devil is the father of lies (Jn 8).
2548. What is a lie? (CCC 2483) A lie is to speak or act against the truth in order to lead someone into error.
2549. How is the gravity of a lie measured? (CCC 2484) The gravity of a lie is measured against:
1. the nature of the truth it deforms
2. the intentions of the one who lies
3. the circumstances (e.g. the harm suffered by the victims).
2550. Why is lying destructive of society? (CCC 2486) Lying is destructive of society, because it undermines trust among men and tears apart the fabric of social relationships.
2551. How does respect for the truth in the disclosure of it express itself? (CCC 2488) Respect for the truth in the disclosure of it expresses itself through the judgment whether or not it is appropriate to reveal the truth to someone who asks for it.
2552. What are reasons to be silent about what ought not be known? (CCC 2489) Reasons to be silent about what ought not be know are:
1. the good and safety of others
2. respect for privacy
3. the common good
4. the duty to avoid scandal.
2553. What is the secret of the sacrament of reconciliation? (CCC 2490) The secret of the sacrament of reconciliation is the strict prohibition that forbids the confessor in any way to betray a penitent by word or in any other manner or for any reason.
The secret of the sacrament of reconciliation cannot be violated under any pretext.
2554. What are professional secrets? (CCC 2491) Professional secrets are confidential information given under the seal of secrecy which must be kept save in exceptional cases.
2555. How is interference by the media in the private lives of men to be considered? (CCC 2492) Interference by the media in the private lives of men is to be considered immoral to the extent that it infringes upon the privacy and freedom of people.
2556. Why are the media mentioned under the eighth commandment? (CCC 2493-2499) The media are mentioned under the eighth commandment, because the media are in a special way connected with the use and abuse of the truth.
2557. At whose service is the information provided by the media? (CCC 2494) The information provided by the media is at the service of the common good.
2558. What does the proper exercise of society’s right to information demand? (CCC 2494) The proper exercise of society’s right to information demands that:
1. the content of the communication be true and complete
2. it is communicated honestly and properly
3. by it the moral law and the rights and dignity of man is upheld.
2559. How are the media used in a proper way? (CCC 2496) The media are used in a proper way with:
1. vigilance and resistance of bad influences
2. moderation and discipline.
2560. What are the duties of a journalist? (CCC 2497) The duties of a journalist are:
1. to serve the truth
2. not to offend against charity
3. to respect the nature of the facts
4. to respect the limits of critical judgment concerning individuals
5. not to stoop to defamation.
2561. What are the duties of civil authorities in the field of media information? (CCC 2498) The duties of civil authorities in the field of media information are:
1. to defend and safeguard a true and just freedom of information
2. to protect public morality and social progress
3. to punish any violation of the rights of individuals
4. to respond to the concerns of the people.
2562. Why are truth and beauty connected? (CCC 2500) Truth and beauty are connected, because truth is beautiful in itself.
2563. What is the very first revelation of God to man? (CCC 2500) The very first revelation of God to man is His revelation through the universal language of creation.
2564. What is art? (CCC 2501) Art is a form of practical wisdom which unites knowledge and skill, to give form to the truth of reality in a language accessible to sight or hearing.
2565. To what extent does art bear a certain likeness to God’s creative activity? (CCC 2501) Art bears a certain likeness to God’s creative activity to the extent that it is inspired by truth and love of beings.
2566. When is sacred art true and beautiful? (CCC 2502) Sacred art is true and beautiful when it:
1. evokes and glorifies the mystery of God
2. draws man to adoration, prayer and the love of God.
2567. How should the bishops care for the sacred art? (CCC 2503) The bishops should care for the sacred art by:
1. promoting it in all its forms
2. removing everything which is not conform with faith and beauty.