Word & Table Mental Reservation
Jan 22, 2026
Fr. Stephen Gauthier, a Canon Theologian in the Anglican Church and Director of Formation at St. Paul's House, explores the intriguing concept of mental reservation. He delves into the delicate balance between truth and confidentiality, illustrating how language can preserve truth while keeping secrets safe. Practical examples, from hiding fugitives to polite evasions, highlight moral ambiguities. Gauthier also discusses how Jesus modeled such reservation, bringing together ancient wisdom and contemporary relevance in moral choices.
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Lying Defined As Intentional Deception
- Augustine defined a lie as an untrue statement intended to deceive, making lying a grave moral issue.
- This frames truth-telling as a serious moral duty even when faced with pressures to deceive.
Truth Versus Confidentiality
- Confidentiality and truth can conflict, creating competing moral goods like veracity and justice.
- The ideal moral response is silence when possible to avoid lying while protecting secrets.
Wide Mental Reservation Defined
- Wide mental reservation uses language ambiguity to state something literally true while withholding full context.
- It preserves honesty without exposing confidential information or causing harm.