Witnesses in Court

A man is bound to give evidence either when his duty asa citizen requires it, or when his evidence may prevent a seriousmiscarriage of justice. A man is not bound to come forward freelywith evidence when his silence would do no harm to the commongood.

The tested evidence of two or three witnesses is enoughto enable the judge to pronounce sentence.

Sometimes evidence is rejected without indicating anactual fault in the witness. Extraneous reasons may detract fromthe value of the evidence, or render it suspect, and so cause it tobe discredited.

To give false evidence is to commit grave sin. For thisis perjury, which is the telling of a lie when under oath.Perjury is directly opposed to justice, and comes into flatconflict with the Eighth Commandment: “Thou shalt not bearfalse witness against thy neighbor.” Even when the evidence asa lie is only a slight matter of venial sin, as testimonyfalsely sworn to, it is a serious sin.