Mental Reservation

 BASIC R.C.BELIEF

(Also known as EQUIVOCATION)

Answering questions in such a way as to deliberately conceal information which the questioner has no right to seek. When being asked impertinent or unjust questions, it is permissible to equivocate either by a lie or the deceitful use of words. This can always be employed by priests.

The rationale is that the priest does not have a moral obligation to give truthful answers to one who has no moral right to receive the truth.