ACCUSATIONS and RESPONSES concerning charges of Detraction, Calumny, and Scandal

E-Mail dialogues between Fr. Trosch and an opposing personage, a Catholic lawyer, making accusations of “detraction,” “calumny,” and “scandal” concerning unspecified statements in the document on “Excommunicating Catholic Bishops.”

By focusing narrowly one is able to deny that clearly written statements, which include both general positions and rules for exceptions, do not contain exceptions. The general rule is that detraction is a sin. The exception which exempts it from being sin is when there is an objectively valid reason -- regardless of the dignity of the person or persons involved. All statements must be understood in the light of possible exceptions in order for it to be said that sin has been committed. Lawyers particularly should be aware that rules normally allow for variances and/or have exceptions.

It is not detraction when the truths told, about a person or group of persons, serves the best interest of the public good and/or serves in defense of innocent people scheduled to be murdered. A contrary position would be the equivalent of saying that one should not disclose the activities of an abortionist, at his home, because that could make his neighbors think less of him.

The document regarding the excommunication of bishops is focused on the sin of omission. The usage of passages quoted from the Catechism of the Catholic Church has denigrated the importance of allowable exceptions concerning scandal and detraction.

Scandal, i.e., the occasion of sin, follows from omission of required acts as well as from direct acts. Bishops, having failed to actively and repeatedly oppose abortion, have been and are continuing to be an underlying reason for many in their jurisdictions to not act according to the will of God in regard to the defense of the innocent. Practical -- the effect of -- indifference to abortion on the part of bishops should be understood as the source of grave scandal.

Opposition to truth in regard to grave matter is grave scandal. Failure to support truth in regard to grave matter should also be considered as grave scandal.

Christianity as a whole is a scandal. But, the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, the only true Church, is guilty of the gravest of scandal. The scandal exists in the passiveness of church leaders -- of any religious belief -- in regard to murder by abortion. Clearly it is known through authoritative Catholic Church teachings that abortion is murder and can be ascertained by any Christian through openness to the word of God. Church leaders have failed to teach the justice of active defense against advertised known murderers. They have directly and indirectly opposed direct defenses of the unborn unless physically present while an abortion is in progress -- a practical impossibility. They have also failed to encourage public protest, correct voting, etc.

Scandal gives cause or reason for another to sin, i.e., being an occasion for wrong doing. Scandal and death are a product of failure to teach that all innocent human beings are worthy of defense when defense would save the innocent even at risk of losing ones own life. This is known through the second part of the great commandment, “Love of neighbors as yourself.” It is clearly seen in the story of the “Good Samaritan” that everyone is to be considered your neighbor. Self-defense is lawfully and morally acceptable by whatever means are seen as necessary. Self-defense is not however obligatory. Love (defense) of innocent neighbors, particularly those who are unable to defend themselves, is morally obligatory if it is within ones capacity to do so without endangering ones own life. NOTE: Sacrifice of ones own life for a major good of another is morally commendable and has its reward in Heaven.

Dear Father:

{{Detraction = disclosing, without objectively valid reason, another's faults and failings to persons who did not know them. CCC 2477 “) of detraction who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another's faults and failings to persons who did not know them;" Suggest also you read 2479 “Detraction and calumny destroy the reputation and honor of one's neighbor.” carefully.}}

[[ CCC 2477 clearly states “without valid reason.” The valid reason exists in the millions of innocent lives that have been lost to legalized abortion that could easily have been saved if bishops actively (as often as necessary) taught, from the pulpit and through Catholic media, the gravity of the sin of abortion, the need for active intervention via the voting booth, public protests at abortion facilities, government offices, etc. ]]

{{When you publicize the bishops faults on the Internet, you are guilty of this sin.}}

[[ False judgement which without repentance carries grave penalties on judgement day. ]]

{{Your feelings and frustration with the bishops do not equal a court order. The latter is objective the former is not.}}

[[ A Catholic lawyer should be capable of understanding the difference between a civil court order and theological positions. ]]

{{Scandal = leads another to do evil. CCC 2284 ff. “2484 The gravity of a lie is measured against the nature of the truth it deforms, the circumstances, the intentions of the one who lies, and the harm suffered by its victims. If a lie in itself only constitutes a venial sin, it becomes mortal when it does grave injury to the virtues of justice and charity.

2485 By its very nature, lying is to be condemned. It is a profanation of speech, whereas the purpose of speech is to communicate known truth to others. The deliberate intention of leading a neighbor into error by saying things contrary to the truth constitutes a failure in justice and charity. The culpability is greater when the intention of deceiving entails the risk of deadly consequences for those who are led astray.

2486 Since it violates the virtue of truthfulness, a lie does real violence to another. It affects his ability to know, which is a condition of every judgment and decision. It contains the seed of discord and all consequent evils. Lying is destructive of society; it undermines trust among men and tears apart the fabric of social relationships.}}

[[ Lying - Calumny: No false statements have been shown to exist. Imputed lying could itself be seen as calumny. Justice for the unborn seems to be totally absent in these accusations. Isn’t charity or love of the unborn to be seen to be of greater value than the supposed good name of those who fail to adequately/appropriately defend the innocent? ]]

{{2487 Every offense committed against justice and truth entails the duty of reparation, even if its author has been forgiven. When it is impossible publicly to make reparation for a wrong, it must be made secretly. If someone who has suffered harm cannot be directly compensated, he must be given moral satisfaction in the name of charity. This duty of reparation also concerns offenses against another's reputation. This reparation, moral and sometimes material, must be evaluated in terms of the extent of the damage inflicted. It obliges in conscience.”

When you attack, criticize and detract from the bishops, you cause others to doubt the Church and to reject her. Both of these are serious sins. Your own concupiscence may lessen your moral culpability but objectively this scandal is a mortal sin.}}

[[ Again the accusation of serious sin. You seem not to understand that through the sin of omission the persons of bishops (not the office of bishop) are gravely guilty of sin. They have allowed women, in a weakened condition, to accept the position that the babies in their wombs are not as important as other concerns of life. Additionally, bishops are personally responsible for their omission of teaching the evil of voting for any candidate who is pro-abortion or pro-choice, etc. Only those who have been taught falsely -- or not taught -- (by bishops and their subordinates) will fail to understand that those in the office of bishop are not certified as perfect by virtue of their office. As with humanity as a whole, goodness or perfection is not guaranteed by office or social status. Popes, bishops, and priests are no more exceptions to this rule than are presidents, judges, congressmen, doctors, or attorneys. Bishops and ministers have a grave duty to make reparation for their failure to teach the word of God as required for the salvation of souls. ]]

{{I do not see the parallel between your hiding-behind-your-web-page-approach to criticizing the bishops and St. Paul’s face-to-face confrontation of Peter. Did Paul put up a billboard or did he talk to the "culprit"? If you want to be St. Paul, should you rebuke them to their faces instead of preaching in the internet taverns?}}

[[ As I believe you have been informed, the pope, cardinals, and bishops of this country have personally been mailed copies of what you see as controversial positions and statements. My own bishop, Archbishop Oscar Lipscomb, has been sent every document of concern and knows of the existence of my web page. Additionally he has available the ability to take canonical disciplinary action against me at any time he believes he is able to show me to be in error. If anything, it must be said that the cards are stacked in his favor -- if I am wrong and he is right.

Also as you have already been told, I have visited the offices of Cardinal Ratzinger and have personally attempted conversations with my bishop to no effect. It is my sincere belief that the gravity of their indifference by omission calls for non-standard forms of spiritual correction. St. Peter paid attention to St. Paul and made corrections. The bishops of the Church thus far have not paid attention to what has been said. If they know me to be in error, they have the obligation of fraternal correction and the extent necessary using whatever disciplinary measures as are necessary. If I am wrong and the bishops are right they are allowing scandal by their failure to use all measures of discipline necessary. ]]

{{If the masons, liberals, government agents, pro-aborts and commies can take over the Church then the promises of Christ and the Holy Spirit are empty and the doctrines of indefectability and infallibility are false. It these two doctrines are false then there is no guarantee of truth in the Church. If that is so then scripture is not trustworthy since it came from the Church. If that is so then we don't know what God wants and therefore cannot be held accountable.

Why should we listen to the Church since it is fallible and full of sinners? Isn't this what you are saying?}}

[[ I have made no statement to the effect that masons, liberals, government agents, pro-aborts and commies have taken over the Church. This is a fabrication of your own imagination.

As a lawyer you should be able to differentiate between offices and the persons who hold them. The offices of king, president, judges, lawyers, etc. are not understood as non-authoritative or defunct because of the evil men who from time to time occupy them. No more so is the office of bishop diminished by incompetent bishops.

The doctrine of Indefectibility refers to the imperishable duration of the Church and her immutability until the end of time. The inference that anything I have stated affects the longevity of the Church or its freeness from formal error is itself in error.

The doctrine of infallibility has nothing to do with individual or groups of bishops being in error. Infallibility only refers to specific defined doctrines of the Church and has nothing to do with even a vast majority of bishops if not in complete unity with the pope and prior infallible teachings. ]]

Prior E-mail Correspondence:

Fr. David C. Trosch wrote:

Opposing writer’s comments and references in {{ - - - - - }}.

{{"detraction", "calumny" and "scandal". Do you deny that these are sins, Father?"}}

[[ See below. ]]

{{detraction = a lessening of reputation or esteem, esp. by envious, malicious, or petty criticism.}}

[[ ___ the persons of most bishops are only held in high regard by liberals and the ignorant. Withholding the truth from the ignorant only allows them to continue to be misled. The criticism I have given in regard to the majority of bishops does not evolve from either envy or maliciousness, and can certainly not be called petty. The lessening of reputation or esteem in regard to most bishops is not possible in the eyes of people of faith. For people in denial it makes little difference for they are not open to the truth anyway. ___ Yes, when properly understood detraction can be a serious sin. ]]

{{calumny = the act of uttering false charges or misrepresentations maliciously calculated to damage another's reputation.}}

[[ ___ No false charges or misrepresentations have been made. This is an unsupported accusation. The statement or insinuation that there has been is itself false. ___ Yes, calumny properly understood is a sin. ]]

{{scandal = discredit brought upon religion by unseemly conduct in a religious person.}}

[[ ___ By omission of discipline in regard to pro-choice, pro-sodomite and pedophiliac priests, bishops have allowed great scandal to come upon the whole Church. By their omission, the scandal of abortion, euthanasia, abuse of the sacraments and other evils are now prevalent throughout the Church. ___ Yes, when scandal is properly placed into perspective it is sin.

- - - - -, it would seem that we are operating on entirely different wave lengths. Only God could select the 80 to 95% of the population who are doing evil in His sight and then destroy them. I personally believe that many of these people can be saved if the bishops would teach the faith according to the will of God. We are all called to repentance, but the bishops as a whole are allowing the belief to continue that God's mercy is granted without repentance (confession is not necessary, or that by receiving Holy Communion that mortal sins are forgiven, etc.), that there is either no Hell or that humans are not sent there (some say it exists only for the fallen angels), that prayer is all that is necessary in the belief that God will do for us the things we are capable of taking care of ourselves. A government agent would like for anyone who believes in defensive action to say that bishops or for that matter anyone else who is doing wrong, according to moral law but not civil law, should be killed. Think about it.

Calling one to repentance and change is not condemnation. To convert the sinner, to instruct the ignorant, and to counsel the doubtful are called spiritual works of mercy. Sometimes new and even dramatic means are necessary, particularly in an age when only the super spectacular is paid very much attention.

Was St. Paul wrong when he admonished Peter? ]]

{{"isn't executing heretical teachers at least as important as executing marauding abortionists?"}}

[[ ___ The concept of defensive action deals with the moral teaching of the Church in regard to direct murder by abortion. To terminate a known murderer to preclude further murders is hardly in the same category as your reference. However, if you are referring to presently nonexistent laws which would legally execute persons who have legally been proven to be (murderous) heretics you may have a point. It would be better, according to modern thinking, to excommunicate them. This would be a call to repentance. Supreme court justices and other judges, who have directly legalized and promoted the growth of abortion, should one day be legally tried and executed. Heretical teachers as such are not directly guilty of murder unless they teach or legalize the murder of innocent people. ]]

This Web Page posted on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1997.
Fr. David C. Trosch

The Catholic Catechism - Detraction & Slander

New Catholic Encyclopedia - Detraction New Catholic Encyc. - Scandal

Concerning Doctrines on Indefectibility & Infallibility

Catechism of the Catholic Church - Scandal, et al

Excommunicating Catholic Bishops Pope John Paul II

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ACCUSATIONS and RESPONSES

Detraction, Calumny, and Scandal

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