Recent Comments

1. about 10 hours ago on Francis

   Certainly the Eastern Rite Catholic, Anglican Rite Catholic, and all the Orthodox Churches have always had Apostolic Succession, valid sacraments, and married priests. It’s the Latin Rite that deviated on the marriage issue.

2. about 19 hours ago on Breaking Cat News

   Condolences on Stormy’s heading to the Rainbow Bridge. Although you weren’t with him in his last moments, he knew in his heart you cared. You’ll have a peaceful image to remember him by.

3. about 20 hours ago on Breaking Cat News

   This article caught my eye because it was just published Wednesday and lays out some philosophical principles to consider. By no means am I implying that all Orbsters are Christian or follow any faith at all.

4. about 20 hours ago on Breaking Cat News

   She could be quite the tyrant herself.

5. about 20 hours ago on Breaking Cat News

   I hope so. See my verrry long comment below.

6. about 20 hours ago on Breaking Cat News

   Similarly, since we live in society and must be sensitive to the feelings of others, we don’t always need to be brutally outspoken in all our thoughts and opinions. So, it’s fine — and even at times required by charity — to answer certain questions with diplomacy and tact, as long as we’re not saying anything radically untrue in doing so.

   With “little white lies,” I think a lot depends on the specific context, and whether the “white lie” involves stating a literal untruth. Refraining from telling a sick person that they look terrible is not a lie, because staying silent in a scenario where you had no need or obligation to comment is not inherently untruthful. Saying a bride is beautiful on her wedding day is also not really a lie, since beauty is in the eye of the beholder and can encompass elements beyond physical appearance.

   Personally [says the author], I’m against telling white lies that are clear-cut falsehoods, even if they only concern trivial matters. Beyond the question whether this is a sin, telling even small lies can cause people to lose their trust in us over time.

7. about 20 hours ago on Breaking Cat News

   September 20, 2023By Jenna Marie Cooper, OSV News Q: Is it always wrong in every case to lie? What about the so-called “little white lie?"

   A: Our Catholic faith teaches us that lying is an offense against the eighth commandment and is in principle always wrong. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “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” (CCC 2485).

   However, as your question suggests, there are some nuances to consider. A quick fib about eating the last piece of cake is obviously not on the same level as a lie in a business transaction that causes a family to lose their entire savings.

   It also might be useful to consider what a lie technically is. As the catechism, referencing St. Augustine, puts it: “A lie consists in speaking a falsehood with the intention of deceiving” (CCC 2482). This means that not every untrue statement was a lie, because there was no intention in such a statement to distort the truth.

   The catechism further specifies that: “To lie is to speak or act against the truth in order to lead into error someone who has the right to know the truth” (CCC 2483). It should be noted that not everyone has the right to know the truth about every situation. In most cases, it is not at all sinful to give an intentionally vague answer to a question that isn’t the proper business of the one asking. For example, if a nosy coworker asks about a recent doctor’s appointment you had, you have no obligation to share the details of your medical condition. “I’m fine, thanks,” and a fast change of subject is morally licit.

   (cont.)

8. about 21 hours ago on Breaking Cat News

   OT the morality of lying (looong)

9. about 21 hours ago on Breaking Cat News

   Here’s an extension report from Kansas State Uni

   http://pcwd dot info/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/1994_Moles.pdf

   Interesting factoid: The report says that moles are solitary beasts. I suggest reading only the first three pages of eight, because the last part of the document deals with how to trap and kill moles.

10. 1 day ago on Breaking Cat News

    Impossible sweetness is rare in this world.