Profanity online.

Should blogging Catholics watch their language?

Larry at Acts of the Apostasy asks that question after he came across a post by a Patheos blogger.  I didn't read the post he referred to - just what Larry had to say about it.  Obviously Larry doesn't read my blog, because I tend to use words like BS and a--h--- when some news item really irks me, or as my dad might say - burns my a--.  To be honest, I agree that is not the best use of language.

So anyway.  I remember a time when some bloggers used bad language all of the time and I actually wrote something about it myself.  Yup.  Back in the olden days I wrote:

I have wanted to comment on the fact that I've noticed Catholic bloggers using the F-word in various contexts within their posts, actually printing the word - I find that just a horrible word for a Catholic to deliberately use online or in private. Unfortunately, I've used, "effing" or "f-ing" on occasion when I've been passionate about an issue, but I usually come to my senses, realize what I've done and go back and remove it.

.

Very often our self-righteous anger is just that, self-righteous, while we remain smug, defending our rights, often unaware of the scandal we give.

Larry is right to suggest a higher standard for Catholic bloggers, and I'm going to try and do better.

BTW - I wrote about the matter within the context of something Archbishop Chaput wrote regarding letter and emails he received at the time:

The Archbishop also said this, "The left mail I get will use terrible words but be less vitriolic. They use the F-word and things like that, call me names like that. But the right is meaner, but they’re not as foul." - Archbishop Chaput

Read Larry's post here.  And watch your mouth you filthy animal.

I know that!

I didn't say that!

You said that!

I didn't say that,

you said that!

I knew that!