A few quick questions

[HickmanJosh]

Is not commenting when people are devaluing another person (or when they say something just outrageous along thouse lines) a sin when you don’t know what to say, or know the people speaking, or if the people are joking?

when someone is listing off the bad actions of another person that you don’t know, yet isent devaluing/insulting that person how should we react?

thanks and God Bless!

 

[William_Pitts]

Is not commenting when people are devaluing another person (or when they say something just outrageous along thouse lines) a sin when you don’t know what to say, or know the people speaking, or if the people are joking?

when someone is listing off the bad actions of another person that you don’t know, yet isent devaluing/insulting that person how should we react?

thanks and God Bless!

In the catechism of the Catholic Church, in the section titled

**III. OFFENSES AGAINST TRUTH **

2477 Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury.[277] He becomes guilty:

- of rash judgment who, even tacitly, assumes as true, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbor;

• of detraction who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another’s faults and failings to persons who did not know them;[278]
• of calumny who, by remarks contrary to the truth, harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them.

• 
  2478 **To avoid rash judgment, everyone should be careful to interpret insofar as possible his neighbor’s thoughts, words, and deeds in a favorable way: **
  
  Every good Christian ought to be more ready to give a favorable interpretation to another’s statement than to condemn it. But if he cannot do so, let him ask how the other understands it. And if the latter understands it badly, let the former correct him with love. If that does not suffice, let the Christian try all suitable ways to bring the other to a correct interpretation so that he may be saved.-St. Ignatius of Loyola, Spiritual Exercises, 22​

**2479 Detraction and calumny destroy the reputation and honor of one’s neighbor. Honor is the social witness given to human dignity, and everyone enjoys a natural right to the honor of his name and reputation and to respect. Thus, detraction and calumny offend against the virtues of justice and charity. **

2480 Every word or attitude is forbidden which by flattery, adulation, or complaisance encourages and confirms another in malicious acts and perverse conduct. Adulation is a grave fault if it makes one an accomplice in another’s vices or grave sins. Neither the desire to be of service nor friendship justifies duplicitous speech. Adulation is a venial sin when it only seeks to be agreeable, to avoid evil, to meet a need, or to obtain legitimate advantages.

It is hard not to listen to or take part in such conversations as you listed but it is probably best to avoid such. Bless you.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

Is not commenting when people are devaluing another person (or when they say something just outrageous along those lines) a sin when you don’t know what to say, or know the people speaking, or if the people are joking?

When someone is listing off the bad actions of another person that you don’t know, yet isn’t devaluing/insulting that person how should we react?

thanks and God Bless!

Not commenting may sometimes be the best thing you can do.

You don’t even know the person who is speaking? Or they are talking about someone else you don’t know?

I don’t think it’s a sin as long as you don’t seem to be approving of it or egging them on. Perhaps you could just change the subject without even acknowledging what was said.

There was a woman I taught with, now teachers are infamous gossipers, but she would never say anything against another person, ever. And somehow, we just didn’t complain or gossip about other people around her. I think you can give good example without actually saying anything.

 

[HickmanJosh]

In the catechism of the Catholic Church, in the section titled

**III. OFFENSES AGAINST TRUTH **

2477 Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury.[277] He becomes guilty:

- of rash judgment who, even tacitly, assumes as true, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbor;

• of detraction who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another’s faults and failings to persons who did not know them;[278]
• of calumny who, by remarks contrary to the truth, harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them.

• 
  2478 **To avoid rash judgment, everyone should be careful to interpret insofar as possible his neighbor’s thoughts, words, and deeds in a favorable way: **
  
  Every good Christian ought to be more ready to give a favorable interpretation to another’s statement than to condemn it. But if he cannot do so, let him ask how the other understands it. And if the latter understands it badly, let the former correct him with love. If that does not suffice, let the Christian try all suitable ways to bring the other to a correct interpretation so that he may be saved.-St. Ignatius of Loyola, Spiritual Exercises, 22​

**2479 Detraction and calumny destroy the reputation and honor of one’s neighbor. Honor is the social witness given to human dignity, and everyone enjoys a natural right to the honor of his name and reputation and to respect. Thus, detraction and calumny offend against the virtues of justice and charity. **

2480 Every word or attitude is forbidden which by flattery, adulation, or complaisance encourages and confirms another in malicious acts and perverse conduct. Adulation is a grave fault if it makes one an accomplice in another’s vices or grave sins. Neither the desire to be of service nor friendship justifies duplicitous speech. Adulation is a venial sin when it only seeks to be agreeable, to avoid evil, to meet a need, or to obtain legitimate advantages.

It is hard not to listen to or take part in such conversations as you listed but it is probably best to avoid such. Bless you.

great thanks!

Not commenting may sometimes be the best thing you can do.

You don’t even know the person who is speaking? Or they are talking about someone else you don’t know?

I don’t think it’s a sin as long as you don’t seem to be approving of it or egging them on. Perhaps you could just change the subject without even acknowledging what was said.

There was a woman I taught with, now teachers are infamous gossipers, but she would never say anything against another person, ever. And somehow, we just didn’t complain or gossip about other people around her. I think you can give good example without actually saying anything.

yeah in my goings about over the past few days ive been encountering a lot of situations where people were being condemned or joked about by people around me, i guess i might just be noticing it more or something but i was just not sure about what the church has said your supposed to do in such situations. Anyways thanks all and God Bless!

 

[AlanFromWichita]

yeah in my goings about over the past few days ive been encountering a lot of situations where people were being condemned or joked about by people around me, i guess i might just be noticing it more or something but i was just not sure about what the church has said your supposed to do in such situations. Anyways thanks all and God Bless!

Our challenge as Christians is to learn to love and respect each person, regardless of their opinions, as if each of the others were Jesus himself. Whatsoever you do and all that …

I’m not talking about deluding yourself and saying “these people are gods,” I’m talking about don’t take an attitude with them you wouldn’t feel comfortable showing Jesus right in the face, because guess what, you just might.

So if you would wash Jesus’ feet, then you would also wash the feet of both those joked about and those doing the joking. People freak out when they see somebody who cares about other people, but honestly doesn’t take sides. It blows them away and shattered their dualistic notion that when there is a conflict, there has to be a “right” side and a “wrong” side.

I have to get off the computer for a bit, but I plan to come back to this thread.

Next challenge is, how can we treat people with the respect we would give Jesus, when in fact, we don’t respect them at all but despise what they are doing?

http://bestsmileys.com/thinking/1.gif

I’ll come back to that later, God willing. I’m only to eager to espouse my thoughts on that. If you want a preview by looking at many words I typed recently, check out the thread on dealing with trolls.

Peace and ,
Alan