The Catholic bulletin., 1916-01-22
TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE.


no matter whether clergy or laity, is
one of the commonest besetting faults
of humanity at large. Whether such
talk is sinful or not depends entirely
ON the circumstances of each case.
If people do things which ought not
to be done, they can only expect to be
talked against. In such case, if the
talking is confined to the truth, and
is done with due moderation, this
amounts to fair criticism and not
word can be said against it. At
the same time the principle of Chris
tian charity always dictates the less
rather than the more. This means
that our habitual tendency should be,
first, to put the best Interpretation we
can on what is done. Secondly, even
il our best Interpretation is an adj
verse one, the less we spread the mat
ter amongst our neighbors the better.
Thirdly, what talking we do should
have some fairly useful purposes
perhaps to unburden ourselves of our
feelings, so as to forget the matter as
soon as possible, or perhaps to get
peoples counsel and advice, ETC., etc.
Fourthly, there should be no malice
or mere love Of gossip or mischief
about it.
1t is laid down that to talk against
our neighbor can be sin in two
ways. Where what we say is untrue
or misleading and mischievous, it be-
comes calumny; mortal sin if by
the falsehood the person is seriously
injured. Secondly, if what we say is
true, but is private and ought not to
be spread, the sin is that of detr3c-
ton; that is, needlessly lowering our
neighbor's reputation. The degree of
the sin committed by calumny or de-
traction is measured by the mischief
done and the mischief will depend
not only on the thing said but also
on the position and status of the per-
son talked against. 1t is in this way
that talking against the clergy, where
it is sinful at all, becomes more sinful
because they are the clergy. A priest
from his very profession needs to be
held in higher respect and reverence
than a layman, because of the higher
relation which he holds towards his
people. Thus it is bad enough if a
prominent layman gets into bad re-
pute through the WagginS OF critical
tongues, but it is still worse if a
priest gets into the same evil case.
1t is not a question of the person, but
of the office. The work of a clergy
man depends very much upon the
esteem in which he is held by those
with whom he has to deal; and, more
over, people expect so much more
from him than they expect from q
layman. Hence the spirit of criti-
CiSm which tends to engender a feel
ing of distrust or dislike or depre-
citation among the parishioners is
certainly a most mischieyous spirit
one which ought to be suppressed in
themselves by all we'll disposed Cath
olics and discouraged and discoun-
tenanced by them whenever they
come across it in others. The cordial
and cooperative relation which is
supposed to exist between clergy and
laity is of the greatest Importance
for the spiritual well-beinS of the par
ties, and is well worth preserving even
at a great personal sacrifice.
We will not undertake to define
exactly where talking against the
clergy becomes sin. Enough is gen
eral to say that it becomes sin as
soon as it begins to injure this cor
dial and cooperative relation; and il
would become mortal sin as soon as
the injuries become serious. Better
and more stimulating will it be to
dwell on the other side and to say
with ST. James: IF any man offend
not in word, he is a perfect man; he
is able with a bride to lead about the
whole body. For when we put bits
into the mouths of horses, that they
may obey us, we can turn about their
whole body. So the tongue also is in.
deed little member, but it boaSteth
big things. Behold how small a fire
kindIeth a great wood. So also the
tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity
The tongue is placed among our mem
hers. which defiIeth the whole body
and inflameth the whole circuit of our
nature, being set on fire from hell
For every nature, Of beasts and oil
birds and of the rest is tanned by man
but the tongue no man can tame, be
Ing as it is an unquiet evil, full oil
deadly poison. Who, then, is wise
man among you? Let him show forth
his work by good conversation i'll the
meekness of wisdom. But if you have
better zeal, and there be contention in
your hearts, do not glory in it, thus
belying the truth; for this is not wis
dom from above. but is something
earthly, sensual, deviish. For where
envying contention is, there is incon
sistency and every evil work. But
the wisdom which is from above is
Iirst chaste, then peaceable and mod
est, easy to be persuaded, sympa
thetic with good, full of mercy and
good fruits, without judging and with
out Discrimination. And thus the fruit
of justice is sown in peace, to them
who are of peaceful mind"
You see that st. James says it much
better than we can. If his words are
taken to heart there will be no need
for discussion about mortal sin; there
will be no sin at all
Sacred Heart RcDietU.
SUCCESS AND FAILURE.