Chapter 1 (144)
Distinction XXXVIII_ | 157
DISTINCTION XXX VIII
Chapter 1 (144)
1. ON THE THREEFOLD KIND OF LYING.—AUGUSTINE, ON PSALM 5S. It is to
be known that there are three kinds of lies. "For there are some lies told for the safety or advantage of someone, and not with malice, but with kindness: in this way lied the midwives"! and Raab.2-—"There is another kind of lying, which is done for amusement, and it does not deceive, for the person to whom it is told knows that it is done for the sake of amusement. And these two kinds of lying are not without fault, but it is not a great fault. It is not suitable for the perfect to lie, however, not even for the sake of another's temporal life, lest they kill their own soul for the sake of someone else's body. It is lawful for them to be silent about the truth, but not to speak falsehood, so that if one does not want to betray another to his death, he is to be silent about the truth, but he is not to speak falsehood."'—There is a third kind of lying, which springs from malignity and duplicity, and this is to be much guarded against by all.
2. Here it seems to be indicated that those lies which are told for the sake of amusement or for someone's safety are venial sins for the imperfect; but for the perfect, the lie told for another's advantage is damnable.
The same may also be held regarding an amusing lie, particularly if it should be repeated.
3. THAT THE LYING OF THE MIDWIVES AND RAAB WAS VENIAL.—
AUGUSTINE, ON LEviTicus. As for the lying of the midwives and Raab, Augustine defines it as venial, saying: "Perhaps the midwives were rewarded not because they lied, but because they freed the children, and because of this mercy [of theirs] their sin was venial, although still a sin; in the same way, Raab was freed because she freed the spies, and on account of this it was a venial sin. But let no one believe that in the case of other sins too, if they are done for the sake of freeing men, the same forgiveness may be granted. For many detestable evils follow from such an error."'—-AUGUSTINE, IN THE ENCHIRIDION. "For we can also assist another by theft, if the poor man to whom we give what is stolen feels the benefit, and the rich man from whom we steal never feels the loss. And we can do the same by adultery, if some woman appears about to die of love, unless we consent to her, while if she lived she might purge herself by penance; yet no one will for this reason deny that such an adultery is a grave sin."
'Augustine, Enarrationes in Psalmos, on Ps. 5, n7; cf. Ex. 1, 15-21.
*CEIJOSi25 3-6;
*Augustine, Enarrationes in Psalmos, on Ps. 5, n7; cf. Ex. 1, 15-21.
"Augustine, Quaestiones in Heptateuchum, bk 3 q68.
*Augustine, Enchiridion, c22.