casuistries

ˈkazjʊɪstri
ˈkaʒjʊɪstri

noun

the use of clever but unsound reasoning, especially in relation to moral questions; sophistry.

the minister is engaging in nothing more or less than casuistry

sophistry,specious reasoning,speciousness,sophism,chicanery,quibbling,equivocation,fallaciousness,fudging