Secrets

“Everything secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion and publicity.”
--Lord Acton

When public discussion of a subject is forbidden, it should raise an immediate suspicion in the minds of those who know of the situation.

There is a very good reason that we have a constitutional right to a public trial. When decisions are made in secret, apart from the view of the people who constitute and support the decisions, there arise several problems. First, if the decision is secret, then there can be no appeal to a higher authority, should a party be wronged. Second, if the decision is secret, one of the major motivations for honesty on the parts of all involved is removed: no-one other than the parties present knows what was said, and most importantly, there is no way of factually verifying whether something was or was not said (should it come under dispute). Third, if the decision is secret, there is a direct implication that certain parties do not think that the decision (or the process through which it was reached) or the reasoning behind it will stand the test of public discussion.

“For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”
(John 3:20-21)

“For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.”
(Luke 12:2-3)

“No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.”
(Luke 8:16)

“Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? And who knoweth us?”
(Isaiah 29:15)

If we are truly honest, then we will have no fear of our words or deeds coming to be known by all. It is only if we have some dark deed or dishonest word to hide, that we will be apprehensive about being recorded or publicized.