"What difference, at this point, does it make?" Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's Benghazi Testimony, January 23, 2013

The Benghazi testimony of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is over, but, it should not be over for all people of faith.  Why?  Mrs. Clinton asked the question; "What difference, at this point, does it make?" in response to one of Senator Ron Johnson's question as to what she knew and when did she know it.  Since Senator Johnson did not get an answer to his question, I am going to switch the tables and answer the question she posed.

Exodus 20:16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor."  This is the 8th Commandment. In Luther's Small Catechism the answer to "What does this mean?" is as follows:  We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way.

In the Roman Catholic Catechism (2498) the answer to "what does the 8th Commandment mean says in part; "...Civil authorities have particular responsibilities in this field because of the common good...  It is for the civil authority... to defend and safeguard a true and just freedom of information.  By promulgating laws and overseeing their application, public authorities should ensure the "public morality and social progress are not gravely endangered" through misuse of the media.  They should give timely and reliable reports concerning the general good or respond to the well-founded concerns of the people.  Nothing can justify recourse to disinformation for manipulating public opinion through the media.  Interventions by public authority should avoid injuring the freedom of individuals or groups."

When I started to write this blog and read the above statement from the Roman Catholic Catechism and the explanation of the 8th Commandment, it was as if this was written as an answer to Mrs. Clinton's question, "What difference does it make?"

In the Jewish tradition one of the commentaries about lying says "... prohibits swearing falsely against your neighbor in matters of law and civil proceedings, but on a deeper level, it implicitly indicates the responsibility to be a witness of the truth at all times."  Further, "...we are to be truthful and bear witness to the truth in all our moments of life.  By lying, by bearing false testimony, we effectively deny the relationship to the One."

Truth and lying are all about character.  Mrs. Clinton said; "Now, honestly, I will do my best to answer your questions about this.  But the fact is that people were trying in real time to get the best information... But, you know, to be clear, it is, from my perspective, less important today looking backwards as to why these militants decided they did it than to find them and bring them to justice, and then maybe we'll figure out what was going on in the meantime." 

Why is it so difficult for Mrs. Clinton to answer the question if she is being honest (in her own words).  Why did she blantantly lie about what she knew?  For political purposes?  To cover up the State Department's inadequcy in this situation?  Why?  She is right, there are Americans dead.  The American people deserve answers, why won't she give them? 

This government was built on God's Law.  We need to demand the truth.  The very underpinnings of the government rely on the character of our leaders.  By Mrs. Clinton asking the question; "What difference, does it make?" we need to answer her as people of faith with the answer; morality matters.

Proverbs 6:16-19 reads; "There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers."

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