Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on 16th Sunday of Ordinary Time.

My dear Parishioners,
Peace! There are ten (10) “In Brief” articles in the Catechism of the Catholic Church addressing the Eighth Commandment of the Decalogue, ‘You shall not bear false witness.’ The following is a reflection on CCC 2507.
Three considerations arise from the light of the Eighth Commandment, ‘You shall not bear false witness’, namely, respect for the reputation and honor of persons, slander and calumny. Slander and calumny are considered synonyms.
The Lord God does not show favoritism, partiality nor is He a “respecter of persons” (cf. Deuteronomy 1:17; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; James 2:1). The Good God does call us to respect the reputation and honor of others. Some of us are notorious for our sins and transgressions: e.g. Al Capone (+1931), Charles Manson (b. 1934), Ted Kaczynski (b. 1942) all come to mind. The reputation these men have is murderers, domestic terrorists, antisocial criminals. We are reminded in Sacred Scripture that it is by our fruits that we shall be known (cf. Matthew 7:16–20). If the Unabomber’s bombs did not blow up, if the murders of 1968 did not happen, if the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre (1929) never occurred these reputations would be different to say the least. While our sins may not make the front page of the local newspaper or the evening news, God knows and God will judge. The legal axiom related to this directive of the Eighth Commandment is that each is innocent until proven guilty. In this way we respect and honor the good reputation of the other until evidence of the contrary is proved. To let someone do a crime, to get away with crime because of social prestige is a sin. We are to speak the truth in love (cf. Ephesians 4:15). We are to say only the good thing people need to hear, that will be helpful and encouraging (cf. Ephesians 4:29). Saint Thomas Aquinas (+1274) addresses “respect of persons” in the Summa Theologiae II-II Q. 63, A. 1–4.
Slander is a sin against the Eighth Commandment. The Oxford English Dictionary reminds us that slander is an action or crime of making false and malicious statements which damage a person’s reputation. It derives from the Latin scandalum and the old French esclandre/escandle. Saint John Chrysostom (+407) alluding to cannibalism wrote that slander is worse than devouring the human body (Homily III, 730).
Calumny is a sin against the Eighth Commandment. The Oxford English Dictionary points out that calumny is the making of false and defamatory statements in order to damage someone’s reputation. Calumny is said to derive from the Latin calumnia and calvor meaning to use artifice, to deceive. Justice requires that one guilty of calumny make reparation for the injury perpetrated and retract false statements. Saint Augustine (+430) specifically identifies calumny as a sort of lie, and hence, contrary to the Eighth Commandment, ‘You shall not bear false witness’ (cf. To Consentius, Against Lying, 24).
Calumny and slander are distinct from detraction.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr