In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Church points to gossip in the form of calumny (false statements about someone or slander). The Church says everyone has a right to the honor and respect “of his name and reputation” (CCC, 2479). Detraction (diminishing another’s worth) and calumny destroy a person’s honor and reputation and are sins against justice and charity.
We are guilty, says the Church, of causing injury to another by:
Rash judgment: when we “even tacitly” assume a moral fault of another is true without knowing the facts
Detraction: disclosing another’s faults and failings to someone who doesn’t know about them without an “objectively valid reason”
Calumny: harming others by falsehood and causing others to judge them wrongfully
(See CCC, 2477)
Gossip in the Bible
The Bible points to slander as a sin which defiles one’s soul. St. Matthew explains this by saying, “what proceeds from the heart” is what comes out of the mouth and defiles one (Mt 15:18-20). Proverbs, too, says one who lies conceals hatred, and one who slanders is “a fool” (Prov 10:18).
Conversely, the one who abides in the Lord’s sanctuary is, rather, the one who does “not slander with their tongue,” does no evil to one’s friends, nor takes reproach against a neighbor (Ps 15:3). And, when slandered oursevles, says St. Paul, we are to respond by speaking kindly (1 Cor 4:13).
Envy
Sometimes our desire to slander another is rooted in envy of them. St. Augustine calls envy “the diabolical sin” (CCC, 2539). The Church, too, designates envy “a capital sin” against the Tenth Commandment (CCC, 2539). “From envy,” says the CCC “are born hatred, detraction, calumny, joy caused by misfortune of a neighbor and displeasure caused by his prosperity” (CCC, 2538-2539). Going further, the CCC says, “A good intention . . . does not make behavior that is intrinsically disordered, such as lying and calumny, good or just” (CCC, 1753).
Gossip and St. Faustina
When wronged by gossip, we can learn from the example of St. Faustina. A fellow nun, doubting St. Faustina, proceeded to distort and add to her words before their fellow sisters. In her Diary, Faustina says Our Lord put her on “guard” regarding this particular sister. Jesus then gives her light as to how to behave and respond towards this sister. Faustina’s response? She prays for this sister, “because only prayer can enlighten a soul” such as this, says she. (#1194 from Divine Mercy In My Soul: The Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska)
Taking the High Road
St. Peter tells us we are to rid ourselves of all slander and long, instead, for “the pure, spiritual milk” of sanctification (1Pet 2:1-2). The next time you are tempted to spread some gossip about another—true or otherwise—think twice. Choose the high road—the road to holiness and sanctification, not the low road leading to unholiness and defilement of one’s soul.
When burdened by past sins in this regard, head to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Our Lord told St. Faustina that when souls feel despair, they need to trust Him and throw themselves into the arms of His mercy (#1541, Diary). The most important thing going forward, in every aspect of our lives, is to use words wisely that build one another up, not tear down. For “knowledge puffs up,” but it is only love that “builds up” and leads one to Heaven (emphasis added, 1 Cor 8:1).
