The sacrament of penance. Some facts on the sins of detraction
and calumny. Are calumny and detraction forbidden by the eighth
commandment? Yes, and also tale bearing, and any words or
actions which injure our neighbour's character. Calumny is
saying something wicked against our neighbour which we know to
be false (slander / libel). Detraction is telling (or writing)
something against him which is true but not known. Both calumny
and detraction are mortal sins, if we do grave injury to our
neighbour's character, and before God will forgive us, we must
repair the evil if we can: but this is much more difficult than
restoring stolen property. Tale bearing is telling someone what
others are saying about him. Back biting and the betraying of
secrets are forbidden by this commandment. This sin of
detraction, the lessening of our neighbour's reputation, is an
act of injustice towards him. This sin is the one most
frequently met with. "Rarely" says St. Jerome "do we find anyone
who is not ready to blame his neighbou