The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Episode: Day 321: Offenses Against Truth (2025)

Overview:

Main Theme:
Fr. Mike Schmitz dives into the Catechism’s teaching on “offenses against truth,” unpacking what it really means to bear witness to the truth in Christian life. He examines how lying, gossip, rash judgment, detraction, calumny, boasting, irony, and flattery/duplicitous speech undermine both charity and justice, and guides listeners through the Church’s call to radical honesty, humility, and proper discernment in word and action.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Living as Witnesses to Truth

• Christians are called not simply to know truth, but to live and bear witness to it.
• Fr. Mike recaps that humans, especially Christians, are designed for truth: “Our intellect is meant to grasp the truth. Therefore, all human beings, but especially Christians, are called to live the truth and to bear witness to the truth.” (01:05)
• This episode addresses how we can violate that calling in daily life.

2. Major Offenses Against Truth

(Referencing CCC 2475-2487; [03:00–08:45])

A. False Witness & Perjury

• False witness: Making public statements contrary to truth; in court, this is grave because it can “condemn the innocent, exonerate the guilty, or increase punishment for the accused.”
• Perjury: Lying under oath, especially grave (“gravely compromise the exercise of justice and fairness of judicial decisions”).

“The Church is saying that there are real consequences to our speech. Our sins have consequences—eternal... but also temporal, earthly consequences.” (09:20)

B. Rash Judgment, Detraction, Calumny

• Rash Judgment: Assuming someone’s moral fault without sufficient grounds.
• Detraction: Unnecessarily disclosing another’s faults to someone who did not know them.
• Calumny: Harming someone’s reputation by making statements that aren’t true.
• Fr. Mike clarifies: “Detraction is when I say something true about someone to someone who doesn’t need to know it; calumny is it’s not even true.” (11:05)

C. Guarding Speech

• Even seemingly harmless conversation about others can open doors to sin.
• He references a Jewish rabbinic tradition: “All speech about another is to be avoided... even positive,” highlighting the slippery slope to gossip (13:15).
• This is not a Church rule, but a spiritual guideline: “It pays to be guarded, even at the beginnings of speech.”

3. Interpreting Others Favorably

• Emphasis on St. Ignatius of Loyola’s admonition:

  “Every good Christian ought to be more ready to give a favorable interpretation to another’s statement than to condemn it…” (15:08)

• Fr. Mike reflects: “How many relationships would still be alive if we actually practiced this?”

• Explains to avoid naiveté: It’s not about “being stupid” but about choosing charity and presuming the best within reason, with the option to clarify if needed (16:45).

4. Detraction and Calumny in Public and Professional Contexts

• Fr. Mike challenges the idea that public figures “deserve” to have their faults discussed: “Unless it’s my responsibility, my job, to talk about someone’s faults, my responsibility is not to be involved in detraction or calumny...” (18:05)
• Notes a difference for necessary discussion (e.g., in management roles, discussing work issues is acceptable; unrelated personal faults are not).

5. Flattery, Adulation, Boasting, and Irony

• Flattery/Adulation:
  Encouraging someone in vice or grave sin is grave matter (“being agreeable could be a sin… if it involves supporting someone’s vice or sin.” [22:00])

  “Neither the desire to be of service nor friendship justifies duplicitous speech.”

• Venial if it’s merely to be agreeable, avoid evil, or gain advantage—but still not excused.
• Boasting/Bragging:
  Not simply stating the truth about your abilities. Sin enters when one “vaunts abilities beyond reality”—a violation of humility.

  “Humility is living the truth. It’s not thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less.”

• Malicious Irony:
  Using irony or sarcasm to disparage others by exaggerating character traits; this becomes a lie when it distorts the truth (26:00).
  • Not all irony is sinful; only that which is “maliciously caricaturing… to the point where it’s no longer true.”

6. Lying: The Direct Offense Against Truth

• Definition (CCC 2483):

  “To lie is to speak or act against the truth in order to lead someone into error.”

• The gravity depends on:
  • The truth deformed
  • Circumstances and intentions
  • The harm suffered by the victim(s)
• Distinction:
  • Not all lies are mortal sins; some are venial, but some are “grave,” especially if grave harm is done (29:20).
• Lying “undermines trust among men and tears apart the fabric of social relationships.”

7. Complex Cases: “Do All Deserve the Truth?”

• Fr. Mike introduces the classic “Nazi at the door” scenario ([31:10]):

  “Am I only obliged to tell the truth to those who deserve to know the truth?”

• Explains the ongoing Catholic debate:
  • Some say the Gestapo “are not owed the truth”—it is not sinful to deceive for charity.
  • Others say lying is intrinsically wrong, but evasive truth or silence may be justified.
  • The Catechism affirms the duty to balance “honesty and discretion.”
• No final answer given, but listeners are encouraged to “wrestle” with the real tension, discern carefully, and note the Church is not naive about moral complexity.

8. Duty of Reparation

• Every offense against truth and justice “entails the duty of reparation—even after forgiveness” (34:20).

• If public reparation isn’t possible, private or “moral satisfaction” must be sought for harm done.

• Fr. Mike tells the story of a man who, after years, confessed to a hit-and-run after finding Christ, exemplifying radical honesty and atonement.

  “Is there any more required of me? ...There can be times when one must do what they can to make reparation for their sins.” (36:00)

• Final discernment: “Will telling the truth now do more harm than good?” Each situation requires honest examination and prayer.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Lying:

  “To lie is to speak or act against the truth in order to lead someone into error by injuring man’s relation to truth and to his neighbor.” (Catechism, 2483) [29:20]

• On Charity in Interpretation:

  “Every good Christian ought to be more ready to give a favorable interpretation to another’s statement than to condemn it.” – St. Ignatius of Loyola [15:08]

• On Flattery:

  “Neither the desire to be of service nor friendship justifies duplicitous speech.” [22:35]

• On Radical Honesty:

  “Reparation... it obliges in conscience.” [34:25]

• On Humility:

  “Humility is living the truth. It’s not thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less. But really, humility is living the truth.” [23:20]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Recap of Truth & Christian Vocation – [01:05–02:40]
• Catechism Reading: 2475–2487 – [03:00–08:45]
• False Witness & Perjury – [09:00–10:00]
• Rash Judgment, Detraction, Calumny – [11:00–13:00]
• Guarding Our Speech – [13:10–15:00]
• Charitable Interpretation / St. Ignatius – [15:05–16:55]
• Public Figures and Reputation – [18:05–19:15]
• Flattery, Adulation, Boasting, Irony – [22:00–27:50]
• Definition & Gravity of Lying – [29:20–30:10]
• Nazi-at-the-Door/Deserving Truth Dilemma – [31:10–33:00]
• Duty of Reparation & Radical Honesty Story – [34:10–36:40]
• Discernment and Courage in Truthfulness – [37:20–end]

Final Thoughts

• The episode deeply challenges listeners to assess their own honesty—not just in “big” matters like perjury, but in daily, subtle offenses like gossip, assumptions, flattery, and misrepresentation.
• Fr. Mike encourages a spirit of humility, prayerful discernment, and courage in making restitution where needed, always balancing charity and justice.

“I’m praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.” [38:55]