The Eighth

Commandment
You Shall Not Bear False Witness
Against Your Neighbor

The Eight Commandment

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

This commandment teaches us that we must be

truthful in what we say and do. It also teaches us
to bear witness to the truth.
We are not to be deceptive in what we say.
We are to respect the reputation and honor of all
persons.
This commandment also forbids gossiping,
rumor-mongering, slander, and libel
Sins to avoid: lying, deception, calumny, betrayal
Virtues to be acquired: truthfulness, honesty

The Eight Commandment

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

God, who is all truth, wills the truth (CCC

2464)
By his very nature, man tends toward the
truth and expects the truth (2467)
In addition to lying, offenses against the
truth include perjury, rash judgment,
detraction, calumny.
Boasting, flattery, adulation

The Eight Commandment

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

But What About Keeping Secrets?

Sometimes, it is necessary to keep a
secret especially in cases where its
revelation may cause harm, or scandal, or
betrayal.
This includes professional confidence
and the oath of confession.
Keeping secrets is not the same as telling
a lie.
CCC 2488-2491

The Eight Commandment

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

So When Is It Appropriate For Remaining

Silent And Not Revealing The Truth?

If keeping silent is for the good and

safety of other people.

If keeping silent is for the safety of the

common good.

If keeping silent is in respect for privacy.

The Eight Commandment

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

The Role of the Media

The media play a crucial and influential role in
modern society. Therefore, the Church urges
that the media must provide information that is
at the service of the common good. (CCC
2493-94)
The media has two obligations: (CCC 2497)
1) to serve the truth
2) to not offend against charity in the
dissemination of information

Respect for the Truth

The secret of the Sacrament of

Reconciliation is sacred, and cannot be
violated under any pretext.The Sacramental
seal is inviolable; therefore, it is a crime for a
confessor in any way to betray a penitent by
word or in any other manner or for any
reason.

Professional Secrets
For example, those of political office
holders, soldiers, physicians and lawyersor confidential information given under
the seal of secrecy, must be kept, save in
exceptional cases where keeping the
secret is bond to cause very grave harm
to the one who confided it, to the one who
received it or to the third party, and where
the very grave harm can be avoided only
by divulging the truth.

Works Cited
Catholic Church. (1994). Catechism of the Catholic Church. Vatican:
Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
Hahn, S. (2003). Lord, have mercy: the healing power of confession. New
York: Double Day.
Klein, P. (2000). The Catholic source book: a comprehensive collection of
information about the Catholic Church. Orlando: Brown-Roa.
McBride, A. (1995). Father McBrides teen catechism. Huntington,IN: Our
Sunday Visitor.
McBride, A. (2000). Father McBrides college catechism. Huntington,IN:
Our Sunday Visitor.

Poust, M. (2008). The complete idiots guide to the Catholic catechism.

New York: Alpha Books