{"id":575,"date":"2015-03-27T12:13:36","date_gmt":"2015-03-27T20:13:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/kateohare\/?p=575"},"modified":"2015-03-28T07:17:56","modified_gmt":"2015-03-28T15:17:56","slug":"wendy-williams-agrees-with-pope-francis-on-gossip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/kateohare\/2015\/03\/wendy-williams-agrees-with-pope-francis-on-gossip\/","title":{"rendered":"Wendy Williams Agrees With Pope Francis on Gossip"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"Wendy-Williams\"<\/a><\/p>\n

One of Pope Francis\u2019 recurring themes is the damage done by gossip. In an Angelus about a year ago, he said (from the National Catholic Register<\/em>, via CNA<\/em><\/a>):<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIt\u2019s so rotten, gossip. At the beginning, it seems to be something enjoyable and fun, like a piece of candy. \u00a0But at the end, it fills the heart with bitterness and also poisons us,\u201d Pope Francis said Feb. 16.<\/p>\n

\u201cI tell you the truth,\u201d he preached to the crowds filling St. Peter\u2019s Square. \u201cI am convinced that if each one of us would purposely avoid gossip, at the end, we would become a saint! It\u2019s a beautiful path!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo we want to become saints? Yes or no?\u201d he queried, as the crowds replied, \u201cYes!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes? Do we want to live attached to gossip as a habit?\u201d Pope Francis continued, \u201cYes or no? No? Okay, so we are in agreement! No gossip!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He continued:<\/p>\n

Jesus offers the example of the Fifth Commandmen, \u201cDo not kill,\u201d and goes on to add, \u201cbut I say to you: Whoever is angry with his brother will be guilty before the court.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWith this, Jesus reminds us that even words can kill,\u201d explained the Pope. \u201cWhen it is said that someone has the \u2018tongue of a serpent,\u2019 what does it mean? That his words kill.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTherefore, not only must one not make an attempt on the life of others, but one must not even pour on him the poison of anger and hit him with slander, nor speak ill of him. And here we arrive at gossip. Gossip can also kill, because it kills the reputation of the person,\u201d stressed the Holy Father.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Even before that, in the fall of 2013, he said (from the\u00a0U.K. Catholic Herald<\/em><\/a>):<\/p>\n

People who judge and criticise others are hypocrites and cowards who are unable to face their own defects, Pope Francis has said.<\/p>\n

Gossip, too, is \u201ccriminal\u201d as it destroys, rather than exalts the image of God present in others, he said in his early morning homily today (September 13) at his residence of Domus Sanctae Marthae.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose who live judging their neighbours, speaking badly of them, are hypocrites because they don\u2019t have the strength, the courage to look at their own defects,\u201d he said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Last fall, the pontiff went so far as to say to assembled religious superiors at the Vatican (via CNS)<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease,\u201d he told the superiors, \u201cdon\u2019t let the terrorism of gossip exist among you. Throw it out. Let there be fraternity. And if you have something against your brother, tell him to his face. Sometimes it might end in fisticuffs,\u201d he said, causing the superiors to laugh. \u201cThat\u2019s not a problem. It\u2019s always better than the terrorism of gossip.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Apparently the secular world agrees. Cablenet Investigation Discovery has given the greenlight to \u201cDeath by Gossip With Wendy Williams,\u201d<\/a> set to premiere this fall.<\/p>\n

Williams, the host of a popular self-titled syndicated talk show, will be host and executive producer of the new series. From the press release:<\/p>\n

(Silver Spring, MD) \u2013 Investigation Discovery proves that talk may be cheap, but gossip can be deadly with the greenlight of a new series\u00a0DEATH BY GOSSIP WITH WENDY WILLIAMS<\/strong>, with the Diva of Dish serving as host and executive producer.\u00a0Premiering in the fall of 2015, idle chitchat turns dark and dangerous as ID uncovers\u00a0crimes fueled by rumors and sordid half-truths that lead to the ultimate betrayal\u2026murder.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s nobody better than the daring doyenne of daytime, Wendy Williams to offer this cautionary tale to those who indulge in chatter and innuendo,\u201d said Henry Schleiff, Group President, Discovery Networks.\u00a0 \u201cDEATH BY GOSSIP<\/strong>\u00a0proves that sticks and stones may break your bones\u2026but words can really kill you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s no rumor\u2026 I\u2019m obsessed with ID to the point that it keeps me up at night,\u201d said Wendy Williams. \u201cI couldn\u2019t be happier to host and executive producer my own project on one of my favorite networks and showcase my brand of talk, which won\u2019t get you killed, but it will kill in the ratings!\u201d<\/p>\n

Beware of offices, gyms, playgrounds, and nosy neighborhoods, as they all make for great rumor mills, but when dishing the dirt results in a body six feet under, not minding one\u2019s own beeswax can quickly become a deadly offense. From a respected English teacher\u2019s very own Shakespearean tragedy entangled by sex, greed and betrayal, to college kid wrapped up in a twisted love triangle with a dash of black magic,\u00a0DEATH BY GOSSIP<\/strong>\u00a0warns viewers of the tempting grapevine, because it can quickly strangle the most unsuspecting of prattlers.<\/p>\n

DEATH BY GOSSIP<\/strong>\u00a0is produced by Wendy Williams Productions (WWP) in association with m2 Pictures for Investigation Discovery. Wendy Hunter, Kevin Hunter, Jill Ramsey and Lisa Knapp are executive producers for WWP. Mike Sinclair, David O\u2019Donnell and Ashley Crary are executive producers for m2 Pictures.For\u00a0Investigation Discovery, Thomas Cutler is executive producer, Sara Kozak is senior vice president of production, Kevin Bennett is general manager, and Henry Schleiff is Group President.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Of course, Williams herself is trading in the fascination with gossip to fuel ratings, but wouldn\u2019t it be nice if people didn\u2019t just enjoy this as voyeurism or titillation, but truly as a\u00a0cautionary tale?<\/p>\n

Gossip is one of humanity\u2019s most cost-effective weapons. Words are free, and words can kill.<\/p>\n

Image: Wikimedia Commons<\/em><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of Pope Francis\u2019 recurring themes is the damage done by gossip. In an Angelus about a year ago, he said (from the National Catholic Register, via CNA): \u201cIt\u2019s so rotten, gossip. At the beginning, it seems to be something enjoyable and fun, like a piece of candy. \u00a0But at the end, it fills the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2174,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39,4,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-575","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-breaking-news","category-media","category-television"],"yoast_head":"\nWendy Williams Agrees With Pope Francis on Gossip<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"One of Pope Francis' recurring themes is the damage done by gossip. 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