Gossip is one of the most malicious acts a person can commit and almost everybody falls prey to this sin. To Jews, for example, slander is worse than murder because it kills not just the person but his entire memory perpetually. I can’t say that I believe as Jews do that it is worse than murder, but it is certainly up there close to it. It seems so petty, but it isn’t petty at all. This man’s life and vocation were distorted and held up to ridicule and the event will never truly go away for him. I find that shameful.
I think along with not choosing to spread malicious gossip ourselves, we have a moral obligation to shut it down when others carry it to us. Silence is agreement, in a way. We have an obligation to God, ourselves and to the person being attacked to state clearly to the gossiping person or persons that we are not interested in hearing or passing along negative speculation about others behind their backs.
This choice is very difficult indeed but the choice is between behaving ethically or setting our ethics aside for the sake of feeling accepted. I personally don’t wish to be accepted by people who revel in evil. Such behavior rubs off, for one thing, and for another if these people are doing that to others with you, they are probably doing it to you with others.
Treat people in the way you wish to be treated, encourage others to do the same, and you will find yourself surrounded by happy, healthy people and enjoy your life every single day.
My prayers go out to Fr Kevin Reynolds and I hope the injuries done to his abilities to love, trust, and inspire others are healed completely.
