Moral Question Regarding My "line Of Work"

[Totus Tuus]

For the past few years, I have been doing some undercover calling for Pro-Life purposes. This requires me to make up a story about myself (i.e., "Hi, I'm ___, and I'm looking for an abortion. How much do you charge for ____ / Do you offer ____?"). The purpose of these calls is to gather factual data to aid in the writing of Pro-Life legislation. Undercover calling is the only way to obtain this kind of current information, since often the information that is offered to the public about a facility's prices or services is not factual (i.e., if you play your story well enough, you can find out that a place offers illegal late-term abortions, or charges a lot more for ultrasounds than their website states). But it's always nagged on my conscience that I really have to lie in order to procure this info. I had taken a hiatus from it, but I've been asked to do another project that will be kind of extensive, and I didn't want to proceed until I got some input on the matter, morally speaking.

Thanks.

[cappie]

[size=3][size=4]According to Webster, to lie is "1: to make an untrue statement with intent to deceive; 2: to create a false or misleading impression" [/size][font="arial,helvetica"][size=4]Although Christians will sometimes quote Webster as an authority on this subject, it is obvious, at least from a Biblical standpoint, that he is not totally correct in his definition of a lie. Obviously, "to make an untrue statement with intent to deceive" is an accurate description of a lie, but "to create a false or misleading impression" is not. [/size][/font][/size]

Recently in our weekly readings (1 Samuel 16), we have a perfect example of this point. Samuel, the prophet, is instructed by the Lord to go to Bethlehem for the express purpose of anointing another king over Israel. Understandably, the prophet was concerned about King Saul learning of his mission because he was afraid Saul would have him killed. Knowing something about the character of Saul, we have every reason to believe that Samuel was not just being overly cautious—Saul was certainly the kind of man who would kill to protect his throne. But, in order to allow Samuel's primary purpose to go undetected, God devised a [i]stratagem[/i] (i.e., a cleverly contrived scheme to outwit the enemy and gain an end). The Lord told Samuel to take a heifer with him and say: "I have come to sacrifice to the Lord" (verse 2). Then we are told:"So Samuel did what the Lord said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, "Do you come peaceably?" And he said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice" (verses 4 & 5a).

I think you will agree with me that Samuel did not tell the whole truth. Although what he said was true, it served to conceal his primary purpose, which, if discovered, would most assuredly not have been considered peaceful by the elders who questioned him. In other words, if Saul had known what was going on, he probably would have been trying to kill not just the prophet, but he would more than likely be wanting to execute any in the town he thought to be accomplices. Therefore, otherwise critical information was being withheld from the elders, and they would not have thought the prophet's visit peaceful.

So, according to Webster's definition (viz., "to create a false or misleading impression"), not only did Samuel lie, but God actually instructed him to do so! Who can believe it? Obviously, any definition of lying that would have the Lord encouraging one to do what is sinful cannot be correct (cf. James 1:13). Therefore, from a Scriptural point of view, the creating of a false or misleading impression is not necessarily a lie.

Consequently, I believe it correct to say that although lying is always wrong and can never be justified under any circumstances , hiding the whole truth from one's adversaries is not always wrong and ought not to always be categorized as lying.

There are also articles about what is called the concept of mental reservation [url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10195b.htm"]http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10195b.htm[/url] you may find it helpful

[Theoketos]

In your case I would try to speak the truth, telling them things that would cause them to give you the info you need, with out telling a lie.