Fr. Mike comments on whether swearing, as in using vulgar language, is a sin. He gives three times when using vulgar words can be sinful:
- If I use the vulgar word against someone, directing it toward them
- If I use a word connected to a sexual act, because sex between persons is meant to be holy and reserved for spousal love
- If I use a vulgar word in public, since it can scandalize people—especially if young ones are present.
Remember that we are called to always be charitable. Our words mean something. We are called to build people up, not bring them down. The words we choose reflect and express what’s in our hearts “for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).
What do you want to express, words that are at best crude or words that build people up?
Meet Fr. Mike Schmitz
Fr. Mike Schmitz serves as Director of youth and young adult ministry for the Diocese of Duluth and as chaplain for the Newman Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
He is a presenter in Ascension’s Chosen, Altaration, and The 99 programs, and has a channel on Ascension Presents.
So because some vulgar words are sometimes connected to something that is meant to be holy, should they always be avoided as a result? Even when they are used in another, completely different manner, that obviously does not refer to something like the sexual act? Like if someone hit their thumb with a hammer and dropped the F bomb, would they be sinning because that word is sometimes used to refer (in a derogatory way) to the sexual act, even though they didn’t mean it that way?