In Podcasts, The Inner Life

Gossip – The Inner Life – September 30, 2025

Patrick Conleyby Patrick Conley

Fr. Peter Armenio joins Patrick to discuss Gossip

  • (2:45) what is Gossip and why is it tempting?

(21:54) Break 1

  • Barbara – I struggle with this a lot. Sometimes people don’t know how to handle situations. Somebody hurts me and I don’t know how to respond and I might go to somebody looking for advice but that person might twist it and tell somebody else.
  • Nick – I think it’s easy for me not to gossip although we’re all prone to it. If we start to think of others wrongs, that’s a poor judgement. All sin is a sin and we all just need to look in the mirror. That will keep us from gossiping.
  • (32:03) Karen – Financial issue with trustee. Gave her confidential info and she threw it back at me after talking to a neighbor about it. She caused issues and made me look bad.
  • John – I was in a prayer group in a Catholic community. Kind of new. I started to have visions. Lady had an illness, and my wife had been sick and almost died. I recommended an herbal substance. I was accused of being new age and got black balled. None of the members would talk to me after that. One lady said not to worry what others think. Very hard. Now, I’m active in a new Catholic church and member of knights.

(40:28) Break 2

  • What do we do when we are praying and gossip starts to arise?
  • (46:39) Sharon – Is there an expiration or limit on how many times you can repeat a topic before it becomes gossip?

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Patrick Conley

Patrick Conley

Patrick Conley was born, raised, and baptized in Wisconsin in a Protestant tradition. After meeting his wife, Kendra, through an Evangelical ministry at the University of Minnesota, they entered the Catholic Church in 2010. They listened to Relevant Radio, specifically The Inner Life, while preparing to enter the Church. Conley now holds a degree in theology from Oxford University and has served the Church in both academic theology and grassroots pastoral ministry. Conley teaches religion classes in a Catholic elementary school, serves as his parish Director of Religious Education, and is in formation for the permanent diaconate. He also hosts Practicing Catholic on Relevant Radio, exclusive to the Minneapolis area’s airwaves, and is a traveling presenter for the Catherine of Siena Institute apostolate. He lives in rural Wisconsin with his wife and their bulldogs, Georgie and Bingley.