Bearing false witness

[CreatioNova]

Ok we all know that apart from telling straightforward outright lies, this commandment includes exaggeration, gossip, calumny and detraction, to name but a few.
Do you gossip, share little tittle tattle tales about workmates, engage wide eyed in those little huddled groups around the coffee machine - and how do you draw the line.

I recently discovered something explosive about a work collegue. Something that could - and will in due time after an appropriate investigation lead to disciplinary action and possible dismissal.

I told my wife - seemed reasonable at the time but now Im not so sure. Have I unwittingly engaged in detraction? If so Ive committed a mortal sin.

But where do you then draw the line between ‘‘talking’’ to a partner, workmate etc and falling foul of the commandment not to bear false witness?

 

[AHapka]

The best way to avoid workplace gossip is to just avoid doing it yourself. It can be hard or easy, depending on your work environment and contact with others.

Were you to share this information with other co-workers, I would agree that it would be sinful in most circumstances. If you are the one doing the investigation and questioning others as part of your investigation, that would be ok. If you have some legitimate reason where a co-worker could be seriously impacted, I don’t think it would necessarily be sinful. But you really have to ask yourself why you are saying something… You might not be lying, but might harm someone’s reputation (I’m also presuming you don’t know all of the facts in the situation).

As far as telling your wife, I think you are in the clear completely. Married people need to be able to talk to each other about what happened during their day, and discuss together how to handle things. Unless your wife is somehow in the middle of this, I don’t think it’s sinful at all. You are one flesh with her, and it’s not sinful in most circumstances to share information with her that should not otherwise be shared.

 

[CreatioNova]

As far as telling your wife, I think you are in the clear completely. Married people need to be able to talk to each other about what happened during their day, and discuss together how to handle things. Unless your wife is somehow in the middle of this, I don’t think it’s sinful at all. You are one flesh with her, and it’s not sinful in most circumstances to share information with her that should not otherwise be shared.

Ok said like that, that makes sense. Many thanks for the quick reply and easing my conscience somewhat

 

[catharina]

Ok we all know that apart from telling straightforward outright lies, this commandment includes exaggeration, gossip, calumny and detraction, to name but a few.
Do you gossip, share little tittle tattle tales about workmates, engage wide eyed in those little huddled groups around the coffee machine - and how do you draw the line.

I recently discovered something explosive about a work collegue. Something that could - and will in due time after an appropriate investigation lead to disciplinary action and possible dismissal.

I told my wife - seemed reasonable at the time but now Im not so sure. Have I unwittingly engaged in detraction? If so Ive committed a mortal sin.

But where do you then draw the line between ‘‘talking’’ to a partner, workmate etc and falling foul of the commandment not to bear false witness?

For the record, there is NO way that anyone can commit a mortal sin, unawares. Not even you. It doesn’t work that way.

 

[CreatioNova]

For the record, there is NO way that anyone can commit a mortal sin, unawares. Not even you. It doesn’t work that way.

I appreciate that. Up till I read a bit more on the 10 commandments I wasn’t aware that calumny and detraction are part of bearing false witness. I nievely took it on face value and thought it mean JUST telling straightforward lies. Now though I AM aware of the implications, so am strugling a bit on where to draw the line. The office politics in my place are monumental. EVERYONE is talked about in one way or another.
Having discovered something that is criminal, but TRUE of this person, I wasnt sure if I was breaking the commandment by sharing the info with my wife; I’m pretty clear that for me to go and divulge the same info to my work collegues would be deliberate detraction and therefor very definately wrong. Senior management will be investigating and appropriate action will be taken against against this person, probably resulting in their dismissal from work.