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Objection 1: It would seem that tale-bearing is not a distinct sin
from backbiting. Isidore says (Etym. x): "The susurro
[tale-bearer] takes his name from the sound of his speech, for he
speaks disparagingly not to the face but into the ear." But to speak
of another disparagingly belongs to backbiting. Therefore
tale-bearing is not a distinct sin from backbiting.
Objection 2: Further, it is written (Lev. 19:16): "Thou
shalt not be an informer nor a tale-bearer among the people." But an
informer is apparently the same as a backbiter. Therefore neither does
tale-bearing differ from backbiting.
Objection 3: Further, it is written (Ecclus. 28:15):
"The tale-bearer and the double-tongued is accursed." But a
double-tongued man is apparently the same as a backbiter, because a
backbiter speaks with a double tongue, with one in your absence, with
another in your presence. Therefore a tale-bearer is the same as a
backbiter.
On the contrary, A gloss on Rm. 1:29,30, "Tale-bearers,
backbiters " says: "Tale-bearers sow discord among friends;
backbiters deny or disparage others' good points."
I answer that, The tale-bearer and the backbiter agree in matter,
and also in form or mode of speaking, since they both speak evil
secretly of their neighbor: and for this reason these terms are
sometimes used one for the other. Hence a gloss on Ecclus.
5:16, "Be not called a tale-bearer " says: "i.e. a
backbiter." They differ however in end, because the backbiter
intends to blacken his neighbor's good name, wherefore he brings
forward those evils especially about his neighbor which are likely to
defame him, or at least to depreciate his good name: whereas a
tale-bearer intends to sever friendship, as appears from the gloss
quoted above and from the saying of Prov. 26:20, "Where the
tale-bearer is taken away, contentions shall cease." Hence it is
that a tale-bearer speaks such ill about his neighbors as may stir his
hearer's mind against them, according to Ecclus. 28:11, "A
sinful man will trouble his friends, and bring in debate in the midst
of them that are at peace."
Reply to Objection 1: A tale-bearer is called a backbiter in so
far as he speaks ill of another; yet he differs from a backbiter since
he intends not to speak ill as such, but to say anything that may stir
one man against another, though it be good simply, and yet has a
semblance of evil through being unpleasant to the hearer.
Reply to Objection 2: An informer differs from a tale-bearer and a
backbiter, for an informer is one who charges others publicly with
crimes, either by accusing or by railing them, which does not apply to
a backbiter or tale-bearer.
Reply to Objection 3: A double-tongued person is properly speaking
a tale-bearer. For since friendship is between two, the tale-bearer
strives to sever friendship on both sides. Hence he employs a double
tongue towards two persons, by speaking ill of one to the other:
wherefore it is written (Ecclus. 28:15): "The tale-bearer
and the double-tongued is accursed," and then it is added, "for he
hath troubled many that were peace."
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