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[…] Catholic men and cussing. Sam Guzman of The Catholic Gentleman discusses the realities of today’s speech, gives some guidelines and then makes his own personal recommendation. […]
A blog for Catholic men that seeks to encourage virtue, the pursuit of holiness and the art of true masculinity.
Should Catholics Cuss?
April 2, 2014
Recently, a horribly raunchy movie made national headlines because it contained over 500 uses of the f-word. Yeah, it was obscenely obscene, and obviously, that level of profanity is unusual. But the fact is, vulgarities are becoming commonplace in music, movies, literature, and everyday language.
This growing trend raises the question— is profanity a sin? Is it morally wrong to use words that are considered to be profane? Let’s examine this issue further.
Guiding principles
I’ll come right out and say it: Profanity isn’t always a sin—but it easily can be. But how are we supposed to know? Here are three principles I see in judging the morality of our speech.
The first principle is intent. What’s the purpose? For example, if you are furious with someone, and you tell them to go to hell (or worse), your intent is obviously to hurt the other person with your words. This kind of angry speech is always prohibited, even if no profane words are used. Jesus makes this clear when he strongly condemns hateful language: “But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be liable to the hell of fire.” Of course, there are plenty of other motivations for using profanity besides anger, but the point is, examining our motives will help us determine if we are sinning or not.
The second principle is degree. It is well known that some profanities are more offensive than others, such as words that have an obviously crude and sexual connotation. The f-word is undoubtedly considered the most obscene word in the English language, for example, and I don’t see any cases in which its use can be justified. Frequency is also important. If every other word in your vocabulary is a vulgarity, it’s probably a sign of a deeper problem.
The third principle is graciousness. “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt,” says St. Paul— which is pretty funny since “salty language” is a euphemism for profanity. Anyway, we know what the great apostle means. Our speech should literally be grace-full. It should build up the hearer.
My take
Now that we’ve clarified that profanity isn’t always immoral, I will state my personal position on the matter. I strongly believe that obscene or profane speech should be completely avoided. Here are five reasons.
1. It is unnecessary – I haven’t used profanity in about 10 years, and I have yet to be unable to express myself adequately. In fact, there are many people who go their whole lives without using a single obscenity. So why bother?
2. Our words will be judged – Jesus said, “I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” That’s a pretty scary thought if you think about how carelessly we talk many times. Do you really want to have to justify to our Lord why you let fly with an f-bomb? Do you really want to defend why you told someone to go to hell? I didn’t think so.
3. It might cause someone to stumble – St. Paul was once asked about whether or not eating certain foods was immoral. He answered that it wasn’t immoral for those who were mature enough to handle it. But he immediately added the caveat that we should never engage in liberties that might cause our brother or sister to fall into sin. Even if you’re a mature Catholic, you must consider the impact of using obscenities in front of someone who might be horrified and scandalized by such talk.
4. It desensitizes us – Back when I was in the habit of using profanity, it took a lot to shock me. I could listen to music or watch movies with the a lot of vulgar language, and it wouldn’t bother me at all. But now, when I hear obscenities, it seems so crude and repulsive. Vulgarity has a way of deadening our soul to things that would normally shock us. And there are some things we simply shouldn’t grow accustomed to.
5. It isn’t classy – Ok, I’ll admit this is the least compelling reason in my case against profanity, but I think it’s valid. If you wouldn’t walk around in public in your pajamas or wear your pants so low your underwear can be seen, why would you say things that are the verbal equivalent?
As Catholic men, we shouldn’t ask how much we can get away with. That’s an immature attitude. Instead, we should ask if our speech is fitting for a follower of Christ.
Conclusion
In writing to the Ephesians, St. Paul exhorts us to guard our speech carefully. “Let no evil talk [sometimes translated “profane speech”] come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear.” This is the rule that should guide us as we examine our speech.
Men, let’s strive to submit everything in our lives to Christ, including our speech. Rather than seeing how much we can get away with, let’s strive to be full of grace and kindness in our speech. Anything less isn’t fitting for a Catholic gentleman.
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I agree with all of the reasons you outlined. Really solid article.
Very well put. Thank you.
This article does tell us when cussing is immoral – when it violates any of the three principles. Not wishing to know how much I can get away with, it would still be helpful to positively know when, under what circumstances, cussing is not immoral.
Also, what about ‘replacement words’? What if I see a dog driving a car down my street and, with mouth agape, I whisper, ‘What the fffffff….ront door?’
It seems to me that “artistic expression” might be one good reason especially if it fits the plot’s purpose. But considering the reasons to use artistic expression in a movie by using profanity goes to many other deeply held aggressions in real life. I have heard a snipper in an interview about what went into his mind when he fired and killed terrorists, the mindset he explained was that they were savages. The point being that when dealing with an enemy to the point of killing, some profanity or thought process must be entertained on the battlefield to the point that killing another man in heat of close hand to hand battle is to reduce their identity as fellow human beings to a substandard place makes it easier in self defense to not let down your guard in the moment you need to kill. How did King David view his enemies? The enemies of Israel and whom God directed him to battle and kill? Profanity in this sense should rather be a natural ejaculation rather than an intended behavior. With that being said, the points laid out here are spot on. Profanity should not be a common occurence, especially when dealing with our fellow brothers and sisters both in Adam as in Christ.
Loved this!!!
I do agree with this article, however I would like to give an example if when I think the F-word is okay. I am a police officer, and sometime the people I deal with, this is the type of language they know. When you are dealing with a drug dealer that has decided that he’d like to fight you instead of go to jail, and you are rolling around on the ground trying to place him in handcuffs, a F-word or two is likely to slip out. I am definitely guilty of this and I know it doesn’t make it right but I don’t feel bad about it either.
Based on your line of work, I think you get a pass 😉
Saint Josemaria suggests that some times it might be appropriate to cuss, calling it the apostolate of strong language. He said in The Way #850: What conversations! What vulgarity and what dirt! And you have to associate with them, in the office, in the university, in the operating-theatre…, in the world.
Ask them if they wouldn’t mind stopping, and they laugh at you. Look annoyed, and they get worse. Leave them, and they continue.
This is the solution: first pray for them, and offer up some sacrifice; then face them like a man and make use of the ‘strong language apostolate’. — The next time we meet I’ll tell you — in a whisper — a few useful words.http://www.escrivaworks.org/book/the_way-point-850.htm
For what my opinion’s worth (and that’s all it is–no sound theology to back this up), I think it’s better to use the occasional profanity than to use the Lord’s (or the Blessed Mother’s, etc.) name in vain.
totally agree!!!!
C*nt is a much worse word to most people than f*ck.
I agree. Your article is well written, and to the point.
My father-in-law, one of the most religious men I know, curses so seldom I thought he was morally opposed to such language. Then I heard him on the phone with someone who had seriously wronged him; when he told the guy to go f*** himself, I applauded. Occasionally, they really are the best words to use.
I’m kind of disappointed by point 4. Why is being desensitized to vulgar language such a bad thing? It’s not like violence or pornography where there is something inherently evil in it. Swear words are just words which are arbitrarily designated as unfit for polite company.
I agree with almost everything you said here. The “f-word” is not, however, the most vile (or is that reviled?) word in the English language as far as I’m concerned. That honour goes to the “c-word” which is, most assuredly, the most vile word one can use both in meaning and in sound. Either way, I’m really and truly terrible for being foul-mouthed although, in general, I don’t believe myself to be guilty of sin — not mortal sin, by any measure. I might contest that swearing for it’s own sake represents a venial sin, though. Not sure how I would contest it, just that I would.
The man of impure speech is a “person whose lips are but an opening and a supply pipe which hell uses to vomit its impurities upon the earth.”
-St. John Vianney
I can’t help but note how much profanity has increased in general circulation. I don’t recall hearing it all that much when I was a kid, except amongst kids trying to be edgy. Now I hear it all the time. It’s really inserted itself into everyday use to an amazing extent.
I miss saying Fk somethimes. sorry but after saying that, in a really normal and stressful situation, after I finally speak that I fell relieved. i avoid the most, but I don’t think Lord will punish me because of something that I was just pulling out of myself, specially after examinee my heart. Sorry, that’s just my opinion.
This article had some very good points. It’s one of the best I’ve read about swearing. Especially your principles on intent and scandal, as many people think that swearing is always bad. Although I think it still falls into the logical fallacy of begging the question, as many good Catholic discussions about swearing do. It assumes automatically that swearing is the “evil”, “Profane” or “careless” thing, and then quotes the Bible where it says, “Let no evil talk come out of your mouths” and the other quotes. Anyone searching after goodness would agree that nothing evil should come from my mouth, but we neglect to prove whether or not swearing is actually the “evil” that Paul is talking about. We just assume that it is. It could be many other things like what Paul talks in verse 31 right after Ephesians 4:29, Or in verse 25 right before. Nothing in that whole chapter talks about cussing, but mostly goes toward one of your principles which is intent. I also don’t agree with there being a degree of swearing which makes swearing intrinsically worse. Depending on where you live in the world, a word can be worse or better, and there’s really nothing to explain why except for how society has reacted to it, but definitely nothing intrinsic. Apparently the word “fanny” isn’t the best word in the UK, but it’s harmless and not heard of as a bad word in America. And the f-word or the c-word are not really that bad in other countries as well.
How do you suggest I confront (if at all) a Catholic brother at my office who regularly and casually uses ‘J-C-‘ to accentuate his surprise or disappointment in a matter?
Remind him that when you call by name, the one being called takes notice, be it Jesus, God, or man:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLSDsyTgldY&feature=youtu.be&t=51
as long as it’s not meant as a sincere attack on someone else (which can be used with words that are also Not considered [arbitrarily] as profane) then logically there isnt anything wrong with it. It’s just a benign expression. It’s just that society has emotionally conditioned us to cringe at certain vocabulary words used as such expressions when other words (often times even synonyms) are not considered bad, all on a completely arbitrary basis. The fact that it’s okay to say “oh crap” but not okay to say “oh shit” really sums up the lack of logic people have when assessing this issue
The argument that it’s not necessary or that it’s not “classy” are both completely useless, subjective arguments from the get go.
It was told to me that the only time anyone ever heard a swear word coming out of my grandmother’s mouth, was when she was running toward her house that was on fire. It burned to the ground. The word was ‘oh shit!’ In my estimation, if it’s become a habit to swear, people will not take you serious. If it comes out rarely, and only in certain circumstances, then it follows that the situation is serious.enough to warrant listening to the message. People who use profanity often appear to be without their moorings. I don’t listen and I’m sure others do not as well.