Gossip

[GerardSchlundt]

When does talking about another person become gossip or calumny?

My wife and I were discussing an event at our parish, and I can’t help but wonder when ‘that line’ is crossed to be a mortal sin assuming the intention, knowledge are present.

I thought that sexual sin would be the hardest to avoid – but I’m finding that not involving myself with gossip seems to be my biggest challenge.

 

[That_one_guy]

When does talking about another person become gossip or calumny?

My wife and I were discussing an event at our parish, and I can’t help but wonder when ‘that line’ is crossed to be a mortal sin assuming the intention, knowledge are present.

I thought that sexual sin would be the hardest to avoid – but I’m finding that not involving myself with gossip seems to be my biggest challenge.

My guess is whether the comments passed on are edifying or destructive.

 

[Trishie]

And if we injure someone’s retutation to any other person, even if what we share seems true, this is sin…how many times does one find one is mistaken…but how many times doesn’t one ever find out that there were reasons or motivations we couldn’t guess at. I know that in my own life, because I do come from a very original direction of though at times, I’ve been terribly misunderstood. What even has seemed wrong has been an incredible innocence or maybe naivity.

Perhaps we should protect others’ reputations as fiercely as we would our own…taking Jesus direction to love others as we wish to be loved. If we besmirch anyone’s name to anyone…mostly we can’t fix that, the person to whom we gossip may pass it on, the next person passes it on…and the person is diminished forever in others’ eyes.

 

[Michael_David]

And if we injure someone’s retutation to any other person, even if what we share seems true, this is sin…how many times does one find one is mistaken…but how many times doesn’t one ever find out that there were reasons or motivations we couldn’t guess at. I know that in my own life, because I do come from a very original direction of though at times, I’ve been terribly misunderstood. What even has seemed wrong has been an incredible innocence or maybe naivity.

Perhaps we should protect others’ reputations as fiercely as we would our own…taking Jesus direction to love others as we wish to be loved. If we besmirch anyone’s name to anyone…mostly we can’t fix that, the person to whom we gossip may pass it on, the next person passes it on…and the person is diminished forever in others’ eyes.

I believe we have all been misunderstood at any given time, given a snap-shot in time. Who really knows us? I am still learning who my wife is at 36 years of living together, going through good and bad times. How can another even know what the other is about after only a few minutes? How can another even know all that is going on in the others life to know why they act/do what they do? Psychologists have many sessions with the person to try and figure out one or two aspects of the person and sometimes other aspects are hidden so deep and still subtly influence the person that it becomes a guess to try and find the source.

Christ knows us very well, better then we know ourselves, and as far as I can tell, it is for Him to work with that other person for salvation’s end… and we do not make it any easier by driving away those that can help the Lord do just that. Remember, we are here on earth so we can get to heaven by loving and serving God. How far are you along to that goal? Perhaps the other person is a little ways behind you, but on the same journey… why not help, instead of hinder???

Is the other person God Child like you are? And dare you ‘yack’ about one of God’s Children… He may take account of it and ask why. Like He did to Cain after Able was missing.

 

[Pani_Rose]

A wonderful prayer, especially used in the Byzantine Churches during Great and Holy Lent, if at all possible do bows or prostrations between the prayer verses.

Prayer of Saint Ephraim

                               O Lord and Master of my life,
       Grant not unto me a spirit of idleness,
                  of discouragement,
                  of lust for power,
                and of vain speaking.


            
            But bestow upon me, Thy servant,
               the spirit of chastity,
                     of meekness,
                     of patience,
                     and of love.


             
                  Yea, O Lord and King,
              grant that I may perceive
                my own transgressions,
              and judge not my brother,
                 for blessed art Thou
                  unto ages of ages. 
                        Amen.

 

[Holly3278]

I don’t really know when talking about another person becomes gossip or calumny but here is what the Catechism has to say:

**2507 **Respect for the reputation and honor of persons forbids all detraction and calumny in word or attitude.