Chapter IV. On Rash Judgment, Suspicion, and Rash Doubt

Rash judgment is a firm assent formed from slight indications concerning some sin or defect of a neighbor; but rash suspicion is a certain inclination to assent concerning the evil of a neighbor from an insufficient reason, or is a begun assent by which someone judges from an insufficient reason that probably some foundation for thinking badly of a neighbor lies hidden. Finally, doubt is a suspension of the mind determining itself to neither side concerning the honesty of a neighbor.

I say 1st. Rash judgment is a mortal sin from its genus. The reason is that each person has the right to good estimation of himself before individuals, nor ought he to be presumed evil until it is proved. - But for the gravity of rash judgment there is required: 1st. that it be firm, or without doubt; 2nd. that it be fully deliberate and voluntary; 3rd. that it be in a grave matter concerning a determined and known person; 4th. that it rest upon indications which are known as slight and unfit for judging. The reason for these things is that otherwise it would not be a true judgment, nor truly rash, nor gravely injurious to the neighbor. - Cf. St. Alphonsus, n. 962.

I say 2nd. Rash suspicion and doubt are venial only from their genus. The reason is that on account of a weak and easily movable adherence they ordinarily bring only slight harm to a neighbor, since they do not take away reputation, but only diminish it and render it doubtful. - Cf. St. Alphonsus, n. 963.

You Will Resolve. - 1st. He does not sin gravely who judges sinisterly concerning a neighbor if the judgment rests upon indications sufficient for prudent probability, because moral certitude and true probability are not so distant that it should be judged a grave injury to hold as almost certain what is very probable. - Cf. St. Alphonsus, n. 962.

2nd. He does not sin gravely who, in judging, does not advert fully to the insufficiency of the motives, although he adverts that he judges less prudently, or if he admits only slight negligence in repelling the judgment. - Cf. St. Alphonsus, ibid.; and Hom. Ap., n. 1.

3rd. He does not sin gravely who judges rashly concerning someone indeterminate among many, e.g., of some gathering or community, or even concerning someone indeed determined but unknown to himself. - Cf. St. Alphonsus, ibid.

4th. Suspicion, or even plainly rash doubt, namely resting upon no reason, can be a mortal sin if it is concerned with very extraordinary sins and sins grave by reason of the condition of the persons whom it regards; because suspicion or doubt of this kind is a greater injury than even a firm judgment concerning less grave sins. - Cf. St. Alphonsus, n. 964.

5th. It is licit to guard against harms from fear that is not altogether imprudent; and thus, e.g., you can keep your things under guard lest they be stolen by a traveler staying in your house; because, even if you cannot positively judge that this or that one is a thief, nevertheless you can very well provide for yourself, since you know certainly that there are sometimes thieves among men, although they are thought to be alien from theft. - Cf. St. Thomas, 2-2, q. 60, art. 4, ad 3.