Detraction

The dictionary definition of detraction is "discrediting or detracting from someone's reputation (especially by slander)".

Catholic usage

In Roman Catholic theology detraction is the sin of revealing previously unknown faults or sins of another person to a third person; the sin is mortal unless there is little hurt, when it is venial.^[1] This differs from the sin of calumny, which is lying about faults or sins that a person does not have. However, a sin may be divulged without contravening the virtues of justice or charity if for the common weal, or the good of the narrator, of his listeners, or even of the culprit^[1].

As in the case of stealing, detraction is a sin which demands restitution. In the case of detraction, performing restitution is difficult, because once something has been made known, it cannot be hidden again. There is a story of a priest (often said to be Philip Neri) who, for a penance given to the town gossip, told her to go to the bell tower and scatter to the wind the feathers from a pillow; when the lady returned he told her to then gather up all the feathers and put them back into the pillow. Generally the only thing that can be done is to bide one's time until an occasion presents itself for a favorable characterization of the person defamed^[1].

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Detraction". Catholic Encyclopedia. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04757a.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-17.