Lie Loophole, Pants on Fire

I’m sorry God, but I don’t believe you care about the ten commandments. There’s one in particular that seems to be largely ignored by Christians without any consequence: you shall not bear false witness against your neighbour[1]. It’s one of those pesky commandments that is often glossed over particularly when it comes to politics and power.

I’m confident the concept of “neighbour” is not too complex given the era in which the bible was written. Neighbours must be pretty important to Christianity because the bible said we ought to love our neighbours as ourselves[2] and “Therefore having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbour, for we are members one of another.”[3] I’m sure “neighbour” represents any member of our community or, to take it wider in the modern era, any member of society in which we participate.

Our expectations among society are that the truth is upheld by everyone. We anticipate honesty and integrity in our transactions with strangers and certainly expect it of those with whom we have closer relationships. We do not appreciate our elected officials failing to comply with the law or to fail to answer questions to the point of removing all accountability. Bearing false witness doesn’t relate to simply telling lies. It relates to the omission of certain information that allows a person to believe something isn’t true. It means acting in a certain way that makes a person feel something that isn’t accurate. Our Christian Prime Minister seems to forget that sometimes when he repeatedly obfuscates to the media.

So, Cardinal Pell case had his High Court appeal upheld today. The High Court appeal is hard to swallow because the majority of Pell’s neighbours, everyday Australians, don’t have the money or resources to make the appeal all the way to the High Court if we found ourselves in a similar situation. And the original decision was overturned despite a jury of everyday Australians finding him guilty given the presented evidence. Australians, as neighbours, have found this court case extremely difficult given the overwhelming number of cases of child sexual abuse revealed in our recent Royal Commission.

The fact that Cardinal Pell did not speak on his own behalf is interesting. If the original jury found him guilty, and they are my peers, I’m inclined to agree with them. So one could hardly claim Pell treated his neighbours as he would treat himself as he refused to even speak to them. He has much more money, powerful people and influence at his disposal. Did he allow others to bear false witness on his behalf? Why didn’t Pell take the stand in Court and cry to the heavens that he didn’t do it? Whatever the reasons are for that, he allowed his money and power to make a case for him rather than speak for himself. I would hardly reconcile that action with ensuring you don’t bear false witness or loving your neighbour as yourself. In fact, as a society we could claim the entire Catholic Church has failed to treat its neighbours well at all.  They certainly didn’t abide by, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.[4]”

For those old enough to remember, the High Court did not uphold the appeal made against the jury who found Lindy Chamberlain guilty. For the High Court to uphold Pell’s appeal signals the original jury came to the wrong verdict on Pell, yet had arrived at the right decision in the Azaria Chamberlain’s death.  Or perhaps the High Court thinks they make better decisions than their neighbours. The bible even has something to say about that, “These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgement in your courts.” [5] Catholics cannot claim Pell is innocent any more than they can claim Lindy Chamberlain was guilty. A High Court appeal, when upheld or dismissed, does not necessarily guarantee sound judgement.

[1] Exodus 20:16

[2] Mark 12:31

[3] Ephesians 4:25

[4] Galations 6:10

[5] Zechariah 8:16