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Shiny Sheet Gets Schooled
Palm Beach Daily News receptionist Gaye Hoxie and I were schooled this morning in the difference between a sin of calumny and a sin of detraction.
A really peeved, anonymous caller explained the two during a tongue-lashing left on our voice-mail system. He claimed to be angry that our business offices were closed Saturday, but he was really mad about past coverage of “that poor bishop … two different bishops.”
I’m pretty sure he had the wrong newspaper, but I’m always keen to learn something new. Calumny = slander. Detraction is to reveal a person’s faults for no good reason, to damage his/her reputation.
There’s a better explanation here: Catholic Education Resource Center.
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And yes, by all means leave us a message if we’re not in so we can get back to you. Extra points for civility — or a linguistics lesson.
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