I am reading ‘The Art of Living the Cardinal Virtues and the Freedom to Love ‘by Edward Sri..

We all know sins like adultery, missing mass for no good reason can be mortal. But I just read ‘According to Aquinas, backbiting is a mortal sin more serious than theft. He quotes Proverbs 22:1 ‘A good name is to chosen rather than great riches.’ To take away someone good name is a graver offense than to take away that person’s property.’

I certainly need to repent of this sin.. as you might know even if the subject matter is true, detraction, or untrue calumny doesn’t make it right.

In this optically charge world in the church politic, in our own families I think many of us,myself included need to think about the fact that Aquinas considered backbiting a mortal sin..