Dissimulation
DISSIMULATION
As understood here, dissimulation is the concealment or cloaking of the truth. The term is applicable not only to culpable deception and want of candor, but also to the legitimate defense of a secret against those who have no right to share it, as in the case of smiling when in much pain, or being friendly to those whom we naturally abhor, not that we might deceive, but that our natural state might for good reason remain unnoticed. Dissimulation must be practiced to some degree by everyone, but most especially by those whose profession requires that they be wards of secrets and confidential matters; for example, priests and doctors. in order to avoid the slightest betrayal they must not only be silent before the probing questions of the curious, but they must prevent those very questions from arising. This can often best be accomplished by timely dissimulation.
Bibliography: j. a. mchugh and c. j. callan, Moral Theology, rev. e. p. farrell, 2 v. (New York 1958) 2:2403–04.
[s. f. parmisano]