CALUMNY AND DETRACTION - a parishioner’s letter to the bishop:- Sept. 26, 2004
Dear Bishop Boissonneau:
The October 3, 2004 edition of the Catholic Register contains the following quote by Father
Octavio Beltran:
They [Beltran’s critics] don’t welcome new immigrants, the new members of the
community, the young people.
Two of the critics are identified by name in the article. I am requesting that Father Beltran identify
the names of the people in the group he identifies as “they” and the dates and circumstances
when these people –either individually or in groups- failed to welcome new immigrants, new
parishioners, and/or young people at St Martin of Tours Parish. Father Beltran has made a very
serious allegation against his critics.
As you may know, Calumny is a sin. Let me quote from a Catholic Dictionary:
Calumny. A form of detraction in which one injures another’s good name by attributing to
him a fault of which the speaker knows he is innocent. It is doubly sinful because the
detraction is based on a lie…. Because it is a sin not only against charity, but also
against justice, calumny requires restitution, the offender being required to restore the
reputation damaged by his calumny.
The very seriousness of the offense requires that Father Beltran put forth the evidence that shows
his allegations to be true.
If, however, Beltran produces the evidence to show that his allegations are true, then he is guilty of
detraction. Again I quote:
Detraction. Unjustly damaging another’s good name by talking about him. Detraction in
this general sense may be calumny if another’s reputation is damaged by lying about
him; or it may be mere detraction if another’s reputation is damaged by telling the truth
about him. Detraction is sinful, because one has a right to his good name.
Either way, Beltran has engaged in behavior that is not in accordance with Church teachings. If
what Beltran says is true –and we can only determine that when he provides the evidence to
support his allegation- then he, in his role of Pastor, should have taken some sort of action such
as informing the individuals involved that their behavior was inappropriate. There should be a
record of this action. If no action was taken at the time these incidents allegedly occurred, then
Father Beltran should explain why he took no action.
Father Beltran’s own quoted words in the Catholic Register have damaged the good name of many
of his critics. And as is shown above, this damage has to be acknowledged publicly by both Father
Beltran and the Church. Both are sins against charity and I note that in your letter to the
parishioners, you place great importance upon charity within the Church.
If the allegations are true, Father Beltran is guilty of detraction.
If the allegations are false, Father Beltran is guilty of calumny.
The allegations must either be true or they must be false.
You, Bishop Boissonneau, must take action on this matter to uphold the teachings of the Catholic
Church. You have no choice but to determine whether Beltran’s allegations are true or false and
then take appropriate action.
I look forward to your reply.
Sidney Knowles
COPIES OF THIS LETTER WILL BE MADE PUBLIC.
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The bishop’s full reply:- 29 September 2004
Dear Mr Knowles:
I am acknowledging your letter of 26 September 2005. (sic)
I have some real difficulties with both your theological reasoning and your logic. However, since
you indicate that the correspondence will be made public but fail to indicate what forum will be
used, it is prudent for me to refrain from any further comment.
Yours sincerely,
(signed) + John A. Boissonneau
_______________________________________________________
We are still praying for a basic level of pastoral care for St. Martin of Tours Parish, and
for resolution to our problems. Promises of reconciliation have proven to be hollow, insincere
and without substance. Regarding last Sunday, why were several car loads of people seen
arriving after Masses to attend the “Coffee Sunday”?
The recent article in the Catholic Register has raised the ire of parishioners. If you have had a
problem which has been ignored or belittled, write your concerns to the Cardinal and the Bishop,
and copy to one of the contact names below or to www.saveourparish.com
We will advise you when Rogers Cable sets the date for airing their segment on our parish.
The time and date will be posted on www.saveourparish.com.
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Email:bishop.boissonneau@rogers.com Fax: 416 207-4984.
His Eminence, Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic, Fax: 416 934-3452.
For more information, contact:
Anna Jushkevich 905 279-7822 Judy Byrnes 905 275-1536
Pat DeAngelis 416 809-1819 Aisling Egan 416 671-4710
Lucy Pires 905 273-6093 Duncan Walker 905 277-9825
Dunstan Bazely 905 275-3946
