What If It's A 'Good' Lie? Does That Count??

A single mother learns that her baby is doomed from its moment of birth...yet she chooses to carry it to term. Sure enough, the baby dies within a few hours of its birth. The courageous mother, who has blogged about her experience from the beginning, has tens of thousands of hits on her blogpage, and an active donations page, as well. Other bloggers, as well as thousands of other people, write to encourage her through this difficult trial.

Only it's not true.

"April's Mom" never was pregnant in the first place. The 'baby' photo she briefly put up was really a "Reborn" brand doll, and promptly recognized by several people, including the dollmaker.

Now she's apologizing, saying first that she never got any money (in spite of those insisting they mailed her checks or made donations), then eventually 'not much money.' She apologizes repeatedly for her actions, blaming them on unresolved pain in her past (including, she hints, losing a baby).

There are people online who HAVE lost babies. (Two of my cousins did -- their baby was born dead, and it was heartbreaking.) "April's Mom" (I don't have the stomach to say her actual name, and give her more publicity), by all accounts, wrote beautifully about it. Could it be argued that this was actually a 'good' lie, that she meant well, and she has given other bereaved parents a voice?

I keep hearing my grandma's (and mom's...and dad's) voice in my head: "Tell the truth, no matter what. You never have to hide from the truth. Nothing good ever came from a lie."

And you know what? I agree with them.