Calumny

Calumny is defined by the Catholic Encylopedia (1917) as “Etymologically any form of ruse or fraud employed to deceive another, particularly in judicial proceedings. In its more commonly accepted signification it means the unjust damaging of the good name of another by imputing to him a crime or fault of which he is not guilty. The sin thus committed is in a general sense mortal, just as is detraction.

That means that if, say for instance, a Pastor spreads false rumors about his associate he is guilty of calumny. If one spreads any type of false rumors about another, they are guilty of calumny.

Unfortunately, it’s one of the most common forms of manipulation in religious life.

Coming up later… Detraction.

The Rev. Kenneth Allen