Gossip, calumny, detraction, rash judgement, etc

[ElFrancoLoco]

I would like some recommendations for traditional Catholic teaching on these topics. This falls under the heading of the 8th commandment. I would have thought that the intertubes would have a big neon sign somewhere saying, “This way to what Saint Thomas Aquinas said.” But no. Help appreciated.

 

[IesumPerMariam]

If you are looking for what St Thomas said, you could start with these questions from the Summa:

II-II, Q. 72: Reviling. newadvent.org/summa/3072.htm

II-II, Q. 73: Back-biting. newadvent.org/summa/3073.htm

II-II, Q. 75: Derision. newadvent.org/summa/3075.htm

I’m sure others will know far more on the topic than I do.

 

[floresco]

Here is a good article on rash judgment: te-deum.blogspot.ca/2011/09/catholics-in-combox-01-rash-judgment.html

Also the CCC makes a good starting point:

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.279

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.

 

[floresco]

If you are interested in audio resources, Audiosancto tends to be a good source of traditional Catholic teaching. It has a file relevant to your question here: audiosancto.org/sermon/20110904-Backbiting-and-Rash-Judgement-Am-I-doing-it.html

 

[Spooky7272]

“The Sinner’s Guide” by Ven. Luis de Granada has chapter devoted specifically to those things: (see Chapters 30-39)

ewtn.com/library/SPIRIT/granada.htm

 

[ElFrancoLoco]

Thank you. That’s just the sort of reliable source I was looking for!

 

[ElFrancoLoco]

If you are interested in audio resources, Audiosancto tends to be a good source of traditional Catholic teaching. It has a file relevant to your question here: audiosancto.org/sermon/20110904-Backbiting-and-Rash-Judgement-Am-I-doing-it.html

Thank you for that link – I will check that out tonight.

I just discovered audiosancto this week. I am in a rural area of New England, far from anyone resembling those priests, so those recordings are a godsend. My location is (literally) in the vicinity of Sodom, Maine.

 

[mike0219116]

Thank you for that link – I will check that out tonight.

I just discovered audiosancto this week. I am in a rural area of New England, far from anyone resembling those priests, so those recordings are a godsend. My location is (literally) in the vicinity of Sodom, Maine.

I discovered Audio Sancto right before Lent. What a blessing it is. I can’t speak highly enough about it.

It turns out that I know a guy who knows one of Audio Sancto website administrators. I had no idea they were right in my backyard.

 

[Monica4316]

Here’s a great sermon! audiosancto.org/sermon/20110828-Facebook-Twitter-and-Backbiting.html