Turpiloquy

TURPILOQUY. - It is speech about base things, which supply the intellect and the will with matter for dishonest thoughts and actions.

Already St. Paul warned Christians against the pagan carrus who entertained the public with their witticisms and equivocal sayings (Eph. 4:29).

The Fathers of the Church (cf. Clement of Alexandria, Pedagogue, books 2-3; St. John Chrysostom: PG 56, 263-70) and popular preachers — such as St. Bernardino and Savonarola — had very strong words and effective warnings against t. (cf. R. Mecacci, L'educazione cristiana nelle opere di s. Bernardino, in Bullettino di S. Bernard., 7 [1941], pp. 21-48, 90-121). Nor is the struggle against t. any less timely in our own day, when sensitivity and shameless equivocation abound in comedies, variety shows, etc.

The gravity of t. is greater or lesser according to its content, the persons to whom it is addressed, and the purpose for which it is done. If it occurs among persons hardened in vice, it can be slightly bad, because it does not excite sensuality and gives no scandal; but the same speech can be highly reprehensible and harmful if it is held in the presence of persons who could be disturbed by it. Already the pagans observed that « magna debetur puero reverentia » and the Gospel has a terrible threat against whoever scandalizes children (Mt. 18:7). The scandal of t., moreover, takes on a most grave malice when it has the purpose of corrupting the innocent in order to take them away from purity and set them on the path to corruption and perversion.

Article 726 of the Italian Penal Code establishes: « soggiace alla ammenda fino a L. 500 chi in luogo pubblico, o aperto al pubblico, usa un linguaggio contrario alla pubblica decenza ». The article was introduced under the pressure of a great Italian national campaign for the defense of decency of language, which arose in Verona on 16 Apr. 1922 through the initiative of a group of persons, who created a Central Committee against blasphemy and t. The Committee launched and spread in every corner of Italy an appeal, which had the blessing of Pope Benedict XV, the adherence of the Government, of all parties and of all the most important Institutes. All the industries of propaganda were set in motion: from special calling cards to posters for markets, sports fields, public places. In the schools, scholastic competitions on propaganda were introduced. A great national referendum among the most distinguished persons was also proclaimed. Four national congresses discussed and treated, under every aspect, the struggle against blasphemy and t. The movement, having become national, brought pressure to bear on the legislative bodies. The law took the movement under its protection.

Angelo Grazioli