Calumnia

Calumnia, or calumny, is the act of making false statements or accusations about another person that are intended to damage that person’s reputation. In many legal contexts, calumnia is treated as a form of defamation, distinguished by the element of an alleged crime or dishonorable conduct being falsely attributed to the target. The term comes from Latin calumnia, meaning a false accusation or fraud.

In legal systems, calumnia can be a criminal offense, a civil wrong, or both, depending on the jurisdiction. Typical elements include: a false statement of fact; about a real person; published or communicated to a third party; with the intent to injure the person’s reputation, or with reckless disregard for the truth. Truth is commonly a defense, and some jurisdictions require proof of malice or knowledge of falsity. Defenses may also include privilege, consent, or absence of intent.

Calumnia is often contrasted with related offenses such as injurias (insults) or difamación (defamation) in civil-law contexts, where calumnia specifically involves false accusations of criminal or morally discrediting conduct. In common-law traditions, calumny aligns with defamation and slander, though terminology and scope vary by country. In some places, calumnia has a distinct criminal charge, with penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment, while in others it is addressed mainly through civil damages for harm to reputation.

Beyond the legal dimension, calumnia has moral and ethical implications in various traditions. In Catholic teaching, calumny is considered a grave offense when one lies about another to harm their reputation, underscoring the broader social harm of false accusations.