A sin many people struggle with is gossip. In fact, it’s so common that some don’t see it as much of a sin, even at times claiming it as a hobby. However, the Church is clear that it is sinful, at times even gravely so. 

 

One of the difficulties in trying to overcome it is simply in knowing what actually constitutes gossip. It’s common to ask questions like these: “Does this count as gossip?  Can I talk about others (even complain about others) without it being gossip? What information can I pass on and what should I keep to myself?” Questions like these can only be answered if we have a good understanding of what gossip actually entails. 

 

A general definition might include descriptions like “idle talk, spreading rumors, sharing unnecessary personal information” or simply as “talking behind someone’s back.” All of these can offer some help in trying to define it, but the Church understands it in a very specific sense. 

 

If we were to look in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we would not find the term “gossip” at all. Instead, we would find a detailed description that mentions three specific forms of what we would typically refer to as gossip, namely rash judgment, detraction and calumny (CCC 2477). 

 

Rash judgment is when we assume the moral faults of another, even if we don’t have sufficient evidence that they actually exist. Essentially we fail to give them the benefit of the doubt or we’re simply prone to believe the worst about someone. 

 

If this happens because of what someone else says, we’ve participated in their gossip. If we pass it along to others, we’re guilty not only of gossiping ourselves, but also may be responsible for encouraging someone else’s rash judgment.  

 

Detraction is a form of gossip in which we make known (without a valid reason) the hidden faults of another. With detraction what we say may be true, but we’re making it known to someone who doesn’t need to, or shouldn’t know it. 

 

The often used phrase “It’s not gossip if it’s true” is actually a falsehood. If the information about someone’s faults are true, it just means it’s a specific form of gossip, but it’s still gossip. 

 

This being said, there may be times when we have an obligation to expose someone’s faults. For example, if we have knowledge of wrongdoing going on in the workplace. In this case there would be that “valid reason” the catechism mentions to make the fault known appropriately. Under those circumstances doing so would not be considered gossip. 

 

Finally, the last form mentioned is calumny. This is when we say something false about someone that damages their reputation. Calumny really involves two sins — lying and trying to harm someone in the process. While all forms of gossip are harmful, calumny can be especially grievous, especially if it is done in a more public way.

 

Something interesting about the catechism’s treatment of gossip is which Commandment it’s listed under. It’s often seen as a violation of the Fifth Commandment because of the serious harm it can inflict on a person. Pope Francis in recent years has likened gossip to forms of “murder” or “terrorism” for this reason. 

 

But the catechism actually lists the forms of gossip under the Eighth Commandment —You shall not bear false witness. This is because it’s an offense not only against another person, but also against the truth. 

 

Gossip can distort the truth of who a person is or how they are perceived. Even if the gossip is “true” it can be used to give an unjust or incomplete image of a person, masking the full picture of who they are. 

 

By contrast, avoiding gossip is a way we can show due charity to others and demonstrate our recognition that each person, no matter how flawed, is still a child of God loved immeasurably by their Heavenly Father.