35. Living in truth

35. LIVING IN TRUTH CHRISTIANS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PRACTICE HONESTY AND INTEGRITY IN ALL THAT THEY SAY AND DO. Compendium 521-526 Dt 5:20 Matthew 5:33-37 1. Living the truth is not just about words, it is a way of life. Deception, Greed and Fear are the cause of lies and create scoundrels. 2. When our word is our bond we build trust, engender cooperation and serve the common good. 3. We must seek to live the truth in charity. 4. Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life, his followers must guard against deception, duplicity, distorting the truth and hypocrisy. 5. The Christian must bear witness to the Truth even with his life. 6. False witness, perjury and lying and causing the innocent to be punished are grave evils. 7. The eighth commandment also forbids Rash Judgement, Calumny, Gossip, Slander and Defamation. 8. Flattery, Complaisance (silence against falsehood) and adulation are also forbidden. 9. The eighth commandment requires discretion in speech and respect for the seal of secrecy with confessors and other counsellors. 10. Truth is beautiful and that which is truly beautiful proclaims the Truth.