When we were children, many of us memorized the Ten Commandments of God's law. It was clear to an 8-year-old that he should not lie, but hearing about “bearing false witness” and its consequences required a good explanation.
Relationship with our neighbor
We read in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
The eighth commandment forbids misrepresenting the truth in our relations with others. This moral prescription flows from the vocation of the holy people to bear witness to their God who is the truth and wills the truth. (CCC 2464).
This first part mentions something fundamental: distorting the truth in our relationships with our neighbors. We will never deceive God, but we can affect those who live with us, especially if they trust us. It’s especially harmful to them if we lie in a way that damages the reputation of someone else, which constitutes slander.
Let’s look at three consequences in the lives of people who bear false witness or are the target of this lack of charity.
1Damage to the reputation of others
Once again, the Catechism warns that we must maintain “respect for the reputation of persons,” which is why the commandment “forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury” (CCC 2477).
It is important to observe due discretion in our conversations with others. Even if we know for a fact that someone has committed a fault or sin, we have no right to reveal their error, especially if others know nothing about it (unless ignorance of it will cause further harm).
Slander can have very real consequences in a person's life, from causing them to lose their job to even worse effects.
Many saints suffered persecution because of gossip or rumors against them, but God takes care of bringing the truth to light. Thanks to their spiritual strength, they were able to emerge victorious from the bad experience.
2It affects society and the Church
Any sin brings evil upon the person who commits it, but it also affects the entire Church. St. Paul compares it to the human body:
If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (1 Cor 12:26-27).
Unfortunately, when we feel envy, it becomes easier to speak ill of our neighbor. This leads to quarrels and divisions, and constant tension that will permeate everyone around those involved.
In this regard, the Catechism teaches:
It contains the seed of discord and all consequent evils. Lying is destructive of society; it undermines trust among men and tears apart the fabric of social relationships (CCC 2486).
3Loss of credibility
We add to the above that whoever bears false witness against others speaks ill of himself. And when the truth is discovered, no one will be able to trust the liar.
Losing credibility is an evil that seriously affects those who fall from grace, because losing people's trust will change their whole life.
The duty to repair the damage
Finally, it should be noted that, in the interests of justice, the damage done must be repaired:
Every offense committed against justice and truth entails the duty of reparation, even if its author has been forgiven. [...] This duty of reparation also concerns offenses against another's reputation. This reparation, moral and sometimes material, must be evaluated in terms of the extent of the damage inflicted. It obliges in conscience (CCC 2487).
