Is this a mortal sin?

[pprimeau1976]

I was on another message board and an anti-Catholic protestant made the following claim:

Names such a moron, slut, idiot, blasphemer…are among the very few that I’ve seen thrown out by Catholics.

I am also reminded about the following that John said (I think it was John)

Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer.

When stuff like that flows out from someone’s mouth or even someone’s keyboard, would this be a mortal sin? I think it should be.

 

[jmcrae]

It is certainly grave matter.

Only the person who did it knows for sure whether it is a mortal sin. I would expect an apology after being called names like that, even if they were true.

 

[Teeliumtrozzle]

If it is TRUE, then I do not believe it is a sin to say someone is a slut or a blashphemer.It is just stating a fact.However, we should not say it maliciously, and should certainly never say it as gossip or as backbiting.But if it is just stating a fact and it is neccesary to say so, or if we are saying it for the persons own good,then that is ok, and we should be compassionate to that person and try to help them.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

If it is TRUE, then I do not believe it is a sin to say someone is a slut or a blashphemer.It is just stating a fact.However, we should not say it maliciously, and should certainly never say it as gossip or as backbiting.But if it is just stating a fact and it is neccesary to say so, or if we are saying it for the persons own good,then that is ok, and we should be compassionate to that person and try to help them.

Note that telling the truth unnecessarily is also a sin against the eighth commandment
**

2477 Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury.278

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;279
• of calumny who, by remarks contrary to the truth, harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them.

** Catechism of the Catholic Church 2477**

 

[Ruthie]

“If it is TRUE, then I do not believe it is a sin to say someone is a slut or a blashphemer. It is just stating a fact.”

It is less than charitable to put it that way, calling them nasty names. It also may be culpable, since we are to “forgive those who trespass against us.”

They may indeed be committing fornication or adultery or heresy. We are allowed to go that far in our thoughts. Assuming we know what the rules are, we can tell when someone is breaking them.

As for talking about it, I am with Joe Kelley. It is also not up to us to judge whether another is sinning mortally.

The following may be a bit garbled; I haven’t tried to put this in words before.

It took me a while to realize that I had to forgive people who offended me by their behavior. Even though they have no intent to offend me, even though they may not know me from Adam, I still have to forgive them at a very basic level.

It goes beyond my praying snottily, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” That only feeds my pride, coming as it does from a spirit of criticism. They have offended She Who Has Infallible Good Taste - the almighty ME!

I have to reply to my sin by getting out of God’s way, by praying that the Lord forgive them for anything they **may **do to offend Him. That takes me out of it and reminds me that it’s not my job to judge. Then I have to ask His forgiveness and help in conquering my pride.

Your sister in Christ,
Ruthie
Tiber Swim Team '06

 

[m134e5]

I was on another message board and an anti-Catholic protestant made the following claim:

"Names such a moron, slut, idiot, blasphemer…are among the very few that I’ve seen thrown out by Catholics. "

It’s probably a mortal sin if intended as an insult…sometimes people use those words lightly, and they aren’t particularly offensive. Other than that, it’s a venial sin.

I am also reminded about the following that John said (I think it was John)

“Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer.”

This is true, but there is a difference in hating someone, and insulting them out of anger, frustration, or playfulness.

When stuff like that flows out from someone’s mouth or even someone’s keyboard, would this be a mortal sin? I think it should be.

I think it is a venial one. A sin is mortal when you are rejecting God. Your soul cannot have sanctifying grace, while at the same time you knowingly and willingly disobey God’s commandments.

 

[Greg27]

The culpability of an act depends on the circumstances and the harm it causes to others. Swearing is not as grave as say, deliberately caluminating or slandering someone or committing perjury. If you were say, cursing because you cut your finger, that would probably just be venial. However, if you were swearing at a person with the aim of breaking their heart or making them feel like garbage, or to reject fundamentally someone who loved and trusted you, I would say that is most definitely mortally sinful, as it is the malicious choice of evil aimed at destroying another person. But the judgement on a person for that act is, from Catholic theology, ultimately up to God if that person does not seek forgiveness for that sin in some way.

 

[MrIrish]

Are you folks seriously equating calling someone a moron with truly hating that same person? That’s just silly. I work with a guy who I think is a big jerk, but I still don’t hate the guy. 1. Calling someone a moron to his face or to others (very uncharitable) and 2. truly, seriously harboring hatred for someone (a mortal sin if done with full knowledge and intent) are two entirely different things and most certainly do NOT carry the same gravity . How about when Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites and vipers? That’s calling someone a name and no one here would seriously say that our Lord was being hateful with his speech (that being impossible, of course!!) I think some of you are conflating hatred with criticism or name-calling, and the two are not the same thing.

 

[goofyjim]

I consider it highly uncharitable to call someone a slut or a moron. Even if it is venial in nature one better get to a priest if they insist on such name calling.

 

[rwoehmke]

I don’t know whether it would be a serious sin or not. My test would be that if it is not something you would be willing to say to someones face, you have no business doing so in front of others who may or may not know the person you are referring to. In any case it is always a sin to speak of anyone, even the truth, if it would lower the opinion others may have of that person you are calling names.

 

[bobzills]

When stuff like that flows out from someone’s mouth or even someone’s keyboard, would this be a mortal sin? I think it should be.

It is wrong and could be serious if it resulted in seriously harming or destroying someone’s reputation.

 

[hilde_the_dog]

There is to me a huge difference if it slips out of your mouth or is typed into a computer, since the latter requires complete thought and execution, like me replying to this thread and hitting “Submit Reply”.

 

[jmj603]

moron, slut, idiot, blasphemer

It depends. Is it a hateful act of contumely or a loving act of fraternal correction? Or is it simply a technical discussion?

As far as “blasphemer” goes, it is a correct term for someone who is guilty of the heinous crime of blasphemy. What do you think of calling thieves “thieves”? Is this always “hateful”? Is it always an act of hate to call Adolf Hitler a “mass murderer”?

 

[jmcrae]

I consider it highly uncharitable to call someone a slut or a moron. Even if it is venial in nature one better get to a priest if they insist on such name calling.

Unless you are a doctor of psychiatry, you should not be calling anyone a moron (there are such persons, and one does not expect them to use the Internet - they have basic mental functions, but they cannot learn to read or write, and most kinds of machinery are beyong their ability to learn to use) - and I can’t think of a single situation where it would be appropriate to use the term “slut,” unless when warning a daughter, “Don’t wear that on your date tonight; you don’t want his friends to think you’re a slut.”

 

[CarolAnnSFO]

and I can’t think of a single situation where it would be appropriate to use the term “slut,” unless when warning a daughter, “Don’t wear that on your date tonight; you don’t want his friends to think you’re a slut.”

I agree; I think that calling somebody a “slut” could hardly be considered an act of fraternal correction.