Moral consequences of taking false oath

I had written some months ago on the taking of the oath in our courts, expressing my view that not enough care is being taken to emphasise the real meaning and the grave moral consequences of taking false oath.

In the past weeks, following the election campaign for the European Parliament, the question of the taking of the oath has taken on a national importance.

I think I can do no better than quote Thomas More from the brilliant play (later film) by Robert Bolt, A Man for all Seasons. He is speaking to his daughter Margaret:

"When a man takes an oath, he's holding his own self in his own hands... like water. And if he opens his fingers then, he needn't hope to find himself again. Some men aren't capable of this but I'd be loathe to think your father one of them."

The taking of false oath before man is a serious matter and could result in a fine or worse - loss of a parliamentary seat, loss of people's respect and so on.

Compared with taking false oath before God, all this is as nothing.