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The Truth about Mental Reservations Part 1: Introduction and Reference

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JMJ

Introduction

 The truth matters to me and there are few things that trigger me as strongly as the truth of a matter (pun). This may be due to my Mother's ability to always catch me in a lie or my inability to lie well :-).  Nonetheless, I am strongly triggered by falsehood and being who I am, I don't back down in an argument as I believe that by having discussions we can drive towards the truth of a matter ... at least as close to it as possible in this life. 

However, being the the son of a man who escaped a communist regime, I also realize that speaking the truth in an imprudent manner could lead to unpleasantries.

This is the reason why I decided to study the Catholic principles of mental reservations. The fruit of my labours will be this new series.  

Mental reservations are the act of withholding some information when answering a question without directly lying. There are conditions where it is unlawful to conceal the truth, there are times when it is allowed and then there are the times when it is necessary.

Understanding how to recognize and react to these three conditions is the purpose of this series.

P^3

Tags: Series - Church Teaching,Series - Mental Reservations,Collection - Moral Theology,


The Truth about Mental Reservations Part 1: Introduction and Reference

The Truth about Mental Reservations Part 2: Defining Mental Reservations

The Truth about Mental Reservations Part 3: Employing Mental Reservations

The Truth about Mental Reservations Part 4:  Conclusion


Reference

For this series, I used the following reference:

MORAL THEOLOGY - A Complete Course Based on St. Thomas Aquinas and the Best Modern Authorities

BY JOHN A. MCHUGH, O.P. and CHARLES J. CALLAN, O.P.
REVISED AND ENLARGED BY EDWARD P. FARRELL, O.P.

Publisher

  • NEW YORK CITY  JOSEPH F. WAGNER, INC.
  • LONDON: B. HERDER
  • All Rights Reserved by Joseph F. Wagner, Inc., New York
  • PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Approvals

  • Nihil Obstat: ELWOOD FERRER SMITH, O.P., S.T.M. and BENJAMIN URBAN FAY, O.P., S.T.LR.
  • Imprimi Potest: VERY REV. WILLIAM D. MARRIN, O.P., P.G., S.T.M., Provincial
  • Nihil Obstat: JOHN A. GOODWINE, J.C.D., Censor Librorum
  • Imprimatur: + FRANCIS CARDINAL SPELLMAN
  • The nihil obstat and imprimatur are official declarations that a book or pamphlet is free of doctrinal or moral error. No implication is contained therein that those who have granted the nihil obstat and imprimatur agree with the contents, opinions or statements expressed.

[Transcriber's note: References to the Code of Canon Law in this work are to the 1917 version of the Code, later superseded by the 1983 version.]

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