Growing Together in our Catholic Faith

Each week we explore an aspect of our Catholicism to grow a deeper understanding of our faith

Gossip

By Fr. John Diezten

When does an injury to another person by true gossip become sinful?� If the information is strictly true and has taken place, where is the injury or the sin?

In my experience as a priest, no sin of speech (perhaps no sins of any kind) are more destructive to our social relationships than the one you mention----and the feeling that simply because a thing is true about someone else, we are free to say whatever we like about it, whenever we like, and to whomever we like.

One who thinks and acts this way is grossly in error.� When the topic of our loose gossip is true, we are dealing with the sin of detraction and contumely (insult).� To lie about others, attributing to them faults and bad actions we know are untrue, is even worse, a sin of calumny or slander.

One commits the sin of detraction when he makes known the faults of another without very good reason for doing so.� It can be a serious moral offense if it does great harm to that other person�s reputation by having his or her faults spread about when they otherwise would not be.�

The same sin is committed when the other person is refused ordinary decency and respect whether face to face in private, or in public, such as in the newspapers or on television.� Even when the other person�s faults are public knowledge, it still can be a sin against charity to speak unnecessarily about those faults.

Occasionally there may be good reasons to tell another�s faults, to a child�s parents, for example.� It is wrong, though to imagine that just because a story about another is true, one is at liberty to spread it around.� A person�s good name is among his most precious possessions, and the fact that one gets a kick out of being always there with the latest tidbit is no justification for tarnishing that good name.� A person�s faults are a matter between himself and God.� The rest of us should keep our noses out.

Scripture has many strong condemning words for gossips.� In Psalm 101, God does not mince words:� �The slanderer of his neighbor in secret---him I will destroy.�

Already in his own time, St. Paul recognized the poisonous effect of this kind of conversation.� He found himself forced to warn against it frequently.� His advice to Titus is still valid:� �Tell them not to speak evil of anyone.�� Which means in blunt language:� �If you can�t say something good about someone, keep quiet.�

Reprinted with permission from Father Dietzen's book "Catholic Q and A",   Crossroad Publishing  New York N.Y. Weekly columns by Father Dietzen on current questions are available in Catholic newspapers throughout the country.

�