Gossip -- Which Type Is This?

[Vbwc]

I know that gossip is a mortal sin if it is hurtful to one’s reputation and one says it knowingly. But some lists also include gossip as a venial sin as well, and I’m a bit confused. I have been guilty of it before. And sometimes I get into it partway before realizing what it is.

Now tonight, I said something that is probably some sort of gossip saying that a person at an event years ago took off their shoes and had to put them on again before they were rewarded at the event. And about another person that they passed away. And when somebody asked me how they died, I said it was following a surgery that went wrong because that’s what I thought I remembered reading. I accidentally told a lie as the person died of an unrelated heart attack. I think it might be venial, but need verification, as I hate committing mortal sins and I need to stop gossiping period.

 

[thistle]

I know that gossip is a mortal sin if it is hurtful to one’s reputation and one says it knowingly. But some lists also include gossip as a venial sin as well, and I’m a bit confused. I have been guilty of it before. And sometimes I get into it partway before realizing what it is.

Now tonight, I said something that is probably some sort of gossip saying that a person at an event years ago took off their shoes and had to put them on again before they were rewarded at the event. And about another person that they passed away. And when somebody asked me how they died, I said it was following a surgery that went wrong because that’s what I thought I remembered reading. I accidentally told a lie as the person died of an unrelated heart attack. I think it might be venial, but need verification, as I hate committing mortal sins and I need to stop gossiping period.

Talk to your priest. We cannot tell you if you have committed a mortal or venial sin.

 

[Kei]

Accidental misinformation when asked doesn’t equate to gossip. Getting how someone died wrong shouldn’t be gossip unless it was grossly wrong to be shameful I would think.

 

[RandomAlias]

Simple stories about the things people did or how they died (even if erroneous) are not sinful, provided that you are careful to protect the reputation of others.

You should be careful about saying someone died due to a surgery that went wrong, since this could harm the reputation of health care providers.

 

[JimG]

The very fact that you are unsure about this means that it is not mortal.