Calumny
Boticelli’s: Allegory On Calumny, detail.
Narrative:
“Rancour, clothed in black, is dragging Calumny forward with his right hand; as a symbol of the lies which she has spread, she is holding a burning torch in her left hand, while she is pulling her victim, an almost naked youth, by the hair behind her with her right hand. His innocence is shown by his nakedness, signifying that he has nothing to hide. In vain has he folded his hands so as to beseech his deliverance. Behind Calumny, the figures of Fraud and Perfidy are studiously engaged in hypocritically braiding the hair of their mistress with a white ribbon and strewing roses over her head and shoulders. In the deceitful forms of beautiful young women, they are making insidious use of the symbols of purity and innocence to adorn the lies of Calumny.” - Source
A story.
A while back, a well respected local man died. He was a daily Mass goer, very prayerful and devout. One of his children is a religious, and he the father was a member of a third order of secular religious. He was a writer and a publisher, he operated a spiritual center, and he was a spiritual director of sorts.
About ten, maybe fifteen years ago a scandal broke out concerning him, the local Church was all a buzz about it. A woman claimed that he had seduced her while undergoing counseling with him. She claimed he insisted the intimacy was necessary for her to become whole and grow spiritually. The woman was classified as a vulnerable adult due to psychological problems. The case went to court - although I believe as a civil, not criminal case. I was told the court ruled in favor of the victim, but I don’t know what type of settlement was awarded. This man did not go to jail however.
Throughout the ordeal, the man and his wife continued to attend daily Mass and all of their devotions. All the while, the gossips kept at him, calling him a hypocrite, and just generally talking him down. Included amongst the back-biters were many good Catholics and even some priests and religious. (I know, because they told me - otherwise, since I do not read the papers, I never would have known about the charges.) His reputation was pretty much destroyed. Yet he never changed his demeanor, nor moved away.
When news came that he died, many of these good Catholics distainfully brought up the incident again. Thus, even in death this man is calumniated and condemned. Because of the allegations against him, and the priest scandals I suppose, I’ve heard many self-righteous remarks by otherwise devout Catholics, who despite what they think they know, know nothing at all concerning his soul and his relationship to God. Nevertheless, in their remarks, people will condemn all pious and devout people of a similar ilk to this man, justifying themselves in the process.
Calumny
I never liked the man I’m speaking about. I respected him, but I never liked him. I got along well with him, and he never would have known I disliked him. We were always cordial and kind to one another. Only once did I bring up the scandal associated with him, through a slip of the tongue, imagining the person I was talking to already knew - but I was not trying to defame him. I was simply offering a reason as to why his death had not been public knowledge. Nevertheless, I know how easy a sin it is to commit.
Calumny, detraction, rash judgement, all of these things appear to be so catholic, although I know it is a very human thing to do, it seems to be a special difficulty for “religious” people. It seems to be the most convenient way to “get back” at someone. If something is true, then people adopt the notion they can talk about it as much as they want. Even if one takes some information about someone out of context - one feels at liberty to spread it abroad. It is no longer surprising to me that good Catholics engage in this behavior so freely, since I hear it done so often.
Granted, it can be a good thing to expose wrongs that have been covered up - especially if it involves an injustice or some moral or physical harm to another - or even to defend one’s personal honor and reputation. However, prudence and discretion, and above all, charity ought to inform our thoughts, words, and actions. Yet even then a person ought to be careful of what they say.
“Another will account himself devout, for reciting a great multitude of prayers every day, (or attending daily Mass) although afterwards he gives his tongue full liberty to utter peevish, arrogant, and injurious words among his familiars and neighbors.” - St. Francis De Sales
