The Eighth Commandment: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Why does telling the truth require discretion?
Communicating truth must be done prudently within the context of charity. Often the truth is wielded as a weapon and thus has a destructive rather than a constructive effect.
When conveying information, we should think of the "three sieves" of Socrates: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it helpful? Discretion is called for also in dealing with professional secrets. They should always be kept, except in special cases defined by strict criteria. Likewise, anyone who publicizes confidential communications that were made under the seal of secrecy commits a sin. Everything we say must be true, but we need not say everything that is true. (YOUCAT question 457)
Dig Deeper: CCC section (2488-2489) and other references here.
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