By a good name is here intended the esteem in which a person is held by his fellow-men.  Call it reputation, character, fame, renown, etc., a good name means that the bearer is generally considered above reproach in all matters of honesty, moral integrity and worth.  It does not necessarily imply that such esteem is manifested exteriorly by what is technically known as honor, the natural concomitant of a good name; it simply stands for the knowledge entertained by others of our respectability and our title to honor.  A good name is therefore one thing; honor is another.  And honor consists precisely in that manifestation on the part of our fellows of the esteem and respect in which they hold us, the fruit of our good name, the homage rendered to virtue, dignity and merit.  As it may therefore be easily seen, these two things—­a good name and honor—­differ as much as a sign differs from the thing signified.

The Eighth Commandment protects every man’s honor; it condemns contumely which is an attack upon that honor.  Contumely is a sign of contempt which shows itself by attempting to impair the honor one duly receives; it either strives to prevent that honor being paid to the good name that naturally deserves it, or it tries to nullify it by offering just the contrary, which is contumely, more commonly called affront, outrage, insult.

Now, contumely, as you will remark, does not seek primarily to deprive one of a good name; which it nearly always succeeds in doing, and this is called detraction; but its object is to prevent your good name from getting its desert of respect, your character supposedly remaining intact.  The insult offered is intended to effect this purpose.  Again, all contumely presupposes the presence of the party affronted; the affront is thrown in one’s face, and therein consists the shocking indecency of the thing and its specific malice.

It must be remembered that anger, hatred, the spirit of vengeance or any other passion does not excuse one from the guilt of contumely.  On the other hand, one’s culpability is not lessened by the accidental fact of one’s intended insults going wide of the mark and bearing no fruit of dishonor to the person assailed.  To the malice of contumely may, and is often, added that of defamation, if apart from the dishonor received one’s character is besmirched in the bargain.  Contumely against parents offends at the same time filial piety; against God and His saints, it is sacrilegious; if provoked by the practice of religion and virtue, it is impious.  If perpetrated in deed, it may offend justice properly so called; if it occasion sin in others, it is scandalous; if it drive the victim to excesses of any kind, the guilt thereof is shared by the contumelious agent.