Can a Good Person Tell a Lie? | Fr. Gregory Pine & Fr. Bonaventure Chapman

June 18, 2026

Is Lying Ever Permissible? A Catholic Answer to One of Ethics’ Hardest Questions

Many people agree that lying is wrong—until they encounter an extraordinary situation. What if a lie could save a life? What if telling the truth would put an innocent person in danger? Is there ever a circumstance in which lying becomes morally acceptable?

In this episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Bonaventure Chapman explore the Christian tradition’s understanding of truthfulness and lying. Drawing on Scripture, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, and even Immanuel Kant, they examine why Christians have historically treated lying as a serious moral issue and why truthfulness is foundational to human flourishing.

The friars unpack the classical definition of a lie, discuss the difference between deception and other forms of speech such as jokes, metaphors, and storytelling, and tackle famous moral dilemmas like the “Nazi at the door” scenario. Along the way, they challenge the modern tendency to judge actions solely by their consequences and offer a richer vision of moral character rooted in virtue.

At its heart, this conversation asks a deeper question than whether a particular lie is justified: What kind of person are we becoming through our choices? For Christians, truthfulness is not merely a rule to follow but a participation in the life of God, who is Truth itself.

Whether you’re wrestling with difficult ethical questions, studying Catholic moral theology, or simply seeking to understand why honesty matters so much in the Christian life, this episode offers a thoughtful and practical guide to one of the most debated topics in ethics.