detraction

[Prometheum_x]

thistle:

I hadn’t noticed this thread until now but have two questions.

1. Is the sin of detraction a mortal or venial sin?
2. I am owed a lot of money and there is a written agreement for the loan. For over a year no repayments have been made to me. It was discovered that the money had been borrowed (by someone thought trusted) under false pretences with it going to a different use and the borrower knowing they would not be able to pay anything back at the time of borrowing. Obviously I’m not overjoyed that I haven’t got my money back and its a big amount which is causing me some financial distress. My wife is uptight about this due to our situation and wants to show the loan agreement to people who know the borrower (we found out some people already knew this person had other unpaid loans but we didn’t at the time so in a way its public knowledge although not our case). The borrower still has their own company and carries on business. I guess my wife wants to do it partly to warn others not to lend money to this person but partly because she is angry and wants to get back the borrower. Personally I don’t want my wife to do this, even if it wasn’t a mortal sin. I would rather pray for the borrower to see what they are doing is wrong and find a way to pay us back. In case I can’t stop my wife is what she wants to do a mortal sin or venial sin?

If you have a written agreement, tell them they need to give you their plan for paying it back or you will be contacting a lawyer.

 

[thistle]

Prometheum_x:

If you have a written agreement, tell them they need to give you their plan for paying it back or you will be contacting a lawyer.

Unfortunately that will not always function well in a developing country. I’m actually intererested in knowing if what I said is construed as a mortal sin or not.

 

[LBP]

I just took a look on the Catholic Encyclopedia online, and they have two reallt helpful entries that explain the topic of detraction really nicely. Look up “detraction” as well as “reputation,” and if you can’t find the entry for reputation, then click on the link from the detraction entry.

As to whether or not detraction is a mortal sin, the entry in the encyclopedia gives a few ways to help determine the gravity thereof. With regards to your wife, thistle, I can’t say. In a general sense, detraction can be either a mortal or venial sin, depending on the amount of harm done to the person’s reputation, and also the person whose reputation is damaged. For instance, to issue a very slight detraction against a bishop could be a very serious sin, while issuing a detraction against someone who is of lower class that sins all the time may not be (as the encyclopedia explains).

I find that, when someone REALLY upsets me, the temptation to detract against that person is really strong, just because, even though it is morally prohibited, it is socially common. But when I think about it, it’s just another type of revenge. Instead of going out and buying a weapon, one could just say a few unkind words and do considerable damage.

Now, suppose a friend of yours calls you up and has a favor to ask: he is going to hire a babysitter and he wants to know if this person is reliable. You know the babysitter in question to be a petty thief. This is a different situation than if the babysitter was your neighbor and one time she was rude to you, but I admit that I do have difficullty in understanding the moral quality of situations like these.

You’re not alone if you struggle with trying to figure out where detraction exists. That’s why I started this thread. I tend to be very scrupulous.

Hope all is well, check out those encyclopedia articles.