Can a Good Person Tell a Lie? episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 18, 2026 · 35 MIN

Can a Good Person Tell a Lie?

from Godsplaining · host Dominican Friars Province of St. Joseph

Most people instinctively say that lying is wrong—until they're presented with an extreme case. What if a murderer came to your door? What if hiding the truth could protect an innocent person? In this episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Gregory and Fr. Bonaventure explore traditional Christian teaching on lying, drawing from St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, and even Immanuel Kant. They discuss why truthfulness is so central to the moral life, whether every lie is sinful, and how Catholics should think about difficult situations where telling the truth seems costly. The conversation goes beyond rules and exceptions to ask a deeper question: Do you want to be the kind of person who tells the truth? For the St. Dominic Rosary and more from the Catholic Woodworker: https://catholicwoodworker.com/products/st-dominic-rosary?utm_source=godsplaining&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=stdominic Join Exodus 90 and their Return of the King challenge: https://exodus90.com/godsplaining   Limited spots! Sign up for the 2026 Men's Retreat in August: https://godsplaining.org/events-2/mens-retreat-brevard-nc-august-2026/   Send your questions for the friars to: [email protected] Subscribe to our channel https://www.youtube.com/c/Godsplaining   Support the Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godsplaining Shop our merch: https://godsplaining.org/store/   Shop Books Written by the Friars Justice: Judge Rightly, Give Freely: https://a.co/d/0dx0V5AT O Sacred Banquet: Exploring the Eucharistic Mystery with Saint Thomas Aquinas: https://a.co/d/0hLdv7oU Witness: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/witness-1 Training the Tongue: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech Your Eucharistic Identity: https://ignatius.com/your-eucharistic-identity-yeip/ St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Dominics-Way-Life-Knowing/dp/1681929392 Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Choose-Confidently-Live-Boldly/dp/1681927322/   Connect on Social Media Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/godsplaining/ Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/godsplaining/ Follow us on X: https://x.com/godsplaining   To learn more about the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.opeast.org To support the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.dominicanfriars.org 

Most people instinctively say that lying is wrong—until they're presented with an extreme case. What if a murderer came to your door? What if hiding the truth could protect an innocent person? In this episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Gregory and Fr. Bonaventure explore traditional Christian teaching on lying, drawing from St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, and even Immanuel Kant. They discuss why truthfulness is so central to the moral life, whether every lie is sinful, and how Catholics should think about difficult situations where telling the truth seems costly. The conversation goes beyond rules and exceptions to ask a deeper question: Do you want to be the kind of person who tells the truth? For the St. Dominic Rosary and more from the Catholic Woodworker: https://catholicwoodworker.com/products/st-dominic-rosary?utm_source=godsplaining&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=stdominic Join Exodus 90 and their Return of the King challenge: https://exodus90.com/godsplaining   Limited spots! Sign up for the 2026 Men's Retreat in August: https://godsplaining.org/events-2/mens-retreat-brevard-nc-august-2026/   Send your questions for the friars to: [email protected] Subscribe to our channel https://www.youtube.com/c/Godsplaining   Support the Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godsplaining Shop our merch: https://godsplaining.org/store/   Shop Books Written by the Friars Justice: Judge Rightly, Give Freely: https://a.co/d/0dx0V5AT O Sacred Banquet: Exploring the Eucharistic Mystery with Saint Thomas Aquinas: https://a.co/d/0hLdv7oU Witness: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/witness-1 Training the Tongue: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speech Your Eucharistic Identity: https://ignatius.com/your-eucharistic-identity-yeip/ St. Dominic's Way of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Dominics-Way-Life-Knowing/dp/1681929392 Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly: https://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Choose-Confidently-Live-Boldly/dp/1681927322/   Connect on Social Media Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/godsplaining/ Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/godsplaining/ Follow us on X: https://x.com/godsplaining   To learn more about the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.opeast.org To support the Province of St. Joseph visit: www.dominicanfriars.org

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Can a Good Person Tell a Lie?

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This episode was published on June 18, 2026.

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Most people instinctively say that lying is wrong—until they're presented with an extreme case. What if a murderer came to your door? What if hiding the truth could protect an innocent person? In this episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Gregory and Fr....

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