Watch your language

"Words expose who we are."

Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man: but what cometh out of the mouth. –Matthew, 15:11

If the fool holds his tongue, he may pass for wise; if he seals his lips, he may pass for intelligent–Proverbs 17:28

These words of wisdom apply to many leaders nowadays. Gone are the days when politicians, academics and even ordinary people chose the words they use. Gone are the days when people engaged their brains before they operated their mouths.

In several instances, many a political leader spit out ugly words in utter abandon on the podium or even in supposedly private conversation, unmindful of the dire consequences of painting a morally or ethically depraved person of their own self.

Time was when public speakers did their best in delivering well-crafted, well thought-out speeches that will indelibly stay in the memory of their listeners for some time, if not forever. Today, a resident of the so-called “palace by the river” seems to think that having a good supply of cusswords and swearwords is fashionable, and that using these makes him a powerful leader. Apparently, he mistakenly believes that incessant use of expletives make him sound intelligent and witty. The effect is that he is exposing himself for what he is — a nitwit.

Public speakers should be reminded of Ecclesiastes 10:20– The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool shall swallow him up.

Recklessness in public discourse may get leaders and countries, and yes, even religions in trouble.

In a talk with fellow Jesuits in Slovakia, Pope Francis was quoted saying that the criticisms against him were the “work of the devil.” Thus he already sentenced to hell those who criticize him.

However, Pope Francis earlier said there is no hell and that bad souls just “disappear” while the good ones get their reward in the contemplation of God.

But isn’t hell the devil’s lair? Therefore if there is no hell, there will be no devil. And so who is working to criticize him?

By the way, by saying there is no hell, Pope Francis flushed down the toilet the 2000-year teaching of the Catholic Church on the forgiveness and punishment for sins.

Last week, Pope Francis praised Ireland President Michael D. Higgins, who legalized abortion in his country. The Pope heaped praises on Higgins just as news broke about his backing of communion for pro-abortion politicians, like US President Joe Biden and Speaker Nancy Pelosi of the US House of Representatives.

Both abortion and allowing communion to politicians who publicly support it are big issues in the Church, particulary in the US and Europe.

Still, in Slovakia, Pope Francis was asked by fellow Jesuits, “who looks at you with suspicion?”

His answer: “There is, for example, a large Catholic television channel that has no hesitation in continually speaking ill of the pope.”

“I personally deserve attacks and insults because I am a sinner, but the Church does not deserve them,” the pope said.

Does this mean that in his view, an attack on him is already an attack on the Church?

An old Roman saying goes: Aquila non captat muscas meaning, “The eagle does not hawk for flies.”

It seems that the pope forgot what Abraham Lincoln said about criticism: “If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how—the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what’s said against me won’t amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.”

Pope Francis is the Bishop of Rome, Successor of Peter, Prince of the Apostles, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Primate of Italy, Patriarch of the West, Sovereign of Vatican City, Vicar of Jesus Christ on Earth and Supreme Pastor of the Universal Church.

So, with all those titles, why should he even be bothered by Raymond Arroyo, a television news reader or pejoratively, a talking head.

Or, is Pope Francis on a mission of distraction to keep the minds of the faithful away from the more serious problems of clerical sexual abuse, abortion, communion for openly pro-abortion politicans and other major concerns like his alleged throwing of Chinese Catholics under the bus with his concordat with the Chinese Communist Party?

Nonnie Pelayo worked for 43 years as a newsman and retired as the news editor of a business newspaper.