Last month, a young Catholic layapologist was accused of sexual misconduct, leading to many people discussing it online.

I'm not going to talk about this person by name or any other Catholic by name in this episode,

because I don't want this episode to be about particular people.

Instead, I want to focus on the perennial lessons that we can learn from these scandalous episodes,

since given that we live in a sinful

world, they'll continue to happen with unfortunate frequency. The first lesson is that we shouldn't

rush to judgment. In this recent case and in many other similar cases, there are allegations

that come forward that are unclear or unconfirmed, and people will spread them even if they have not been confirmed

or turn out to be false. So when we hear about scandalous behavior, we should take a breath,

maybe not offer our two cents or share things we can't confirm, and just pray for everybody

involved until the facts have been established with some kind of moral certainty.

It's much better to say nothing than to spread a lie, even unintentionally, because it's almost

impossible to undo the damage of calumny, which the catechism defines as remarks contrary to the

truth that harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them.

The catechism also says respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury.

He becomes guilty of rash judgment, who even tacitly assumes as true without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbor.

But even if the allegations of scandal or wrongdoing turn out to be true, there is a second

lesson to be learned. Not every scandal needs to be made public. It can be a sin to share a truth

about someone that others have no right to hear about. This is called detraction, and the

catechism says it happens when, quote, without objectively valid reason, one discloses another's

faults and failings to persons who did not know them. And a helpful memory device, the L in calumny

refers to lying, and the T and detraction refers to truths that shouldn't be shared.

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