Slander or calumny in these circumstances

[christaddict]

I understand speaking ill of others, either true or untrue, is wrong. Now I also understand that there are circumstances when we have an obligation to reveal someone’s true identity or intention (say someone vowed to do grave harm to your acquaintance, or a witness in the court). Now, I need to understand where we draw a line between what would be sinful and what wouldn’t.

Couple of scenarios:

In counseling you have to reveal the source of problem, it might be the bad behaviour of your spouse, parents or other immediate family members.

A journalist is asked to write about a prominent personality; true it might be … but not very flattering.

 

[Bartolome_Casas]

To me, the key issue is NECESSITY. Is there really an need for this matter to be discussed? In professional counseling, the client must tell the counselor everything that the counselor wants or needs to know. But in the case of journalists writing about celebrities, is there really any need for anyone to write about the personal life of any celebrity? Sure, there’s money to be made on that, but is there really any social need for it? I don’t think so.

 

[Theophorus]

I understand speaking ill of others, either true or untrue, is wrong. Now I also understand that there are circumstances when we have an obligation to reveal someone’s true identity or intention (say someone vowed to do grave harm to your acquaintance, or a witness in the court). Now, I need to understand where we draw a line between what would be sinful and what wouldn’t.

Couple of scenarios:

In counseling you have to reveal the source of problem, it might be the bad behaviour of your spouse, parents or other immediate family members.

A journalist is asked to write about a prominent personality; true it might be … but not very flattering.

But Lying is also a sin, and is it speaking ill or speaking the truth which is less than pleasant? St. Thomas Aquinas would speak of it in terms of who has the right to the true information you have about someone. A councellor, priest in the confessional, spouse etc. would have more or less right to the information depending on the situation and the gravity of the information.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

… But in the case of journalists writing about celebrities, is there really any need for anyone to write about the personal life of any celebrity? Sure, there’s money to be made on that, but is there really any social need for it? I don’t think so.

I believe that the need to make money is not an excuse for prostitution. The same may apply to journalism.