Feedback.

Q: I think swearing is a sign of ...

Insecurity. People who swear are calling attention to themselves. Swearing makes them feel important.

Marilyn Wickel Hillsborough, N.J.

Low class, even if the person is a professional or has a college education.

Winifred C. Donald Vestal, N.Y.

Frustration and anger that the person has not learned to deal with appropriately.

Kris Ivancic Tupelo, Miss.

Egoism. People who curse don't respect the people forced to hear them.

Jerry Ross Monroeville, Penn.

Inability to articulate what one really feels.

Brother Alan Parham, F.S.C. Kansas City, Mo.

Frustration--or someone from New York City or the New Jersey area.

Ruth Hroncich Brookfield, Ill.

The overall cultural decline.

William Seaton Newtown, Penn.

Occasional swearing is a sign of unexpected pain, extreme distress, a momentary lapse of good sense. Habitual swearing is a sign of intolerance, insult, ignorance, rage, non-empathy, self-hate, and low self-esteem.

Kathryn Drexel Plymouth, N.H.

Q; One way I've learned to help myself (or my children) to keep from swearing is ...

Count to 10 or say a fast prayer.

Name withheld San Leandro, Calif.

Substitute a harmless word or expression for a foul one.

Jean Marie Cull Westlake Village, Calif.

Accepting the bad things in life more calmly.

Joseph E. Clines Commack, N.Y.

View it neither as OK nor as taboo, but rather as a tool to use only in those rare moments when appropriate.

James Donovan Waukegan, Ill.

When our boys were small we had a "swear box," and each time they slipped they put some of their allowance in the box. They now slip less often than I do.

Fran Reuland Omaha, Neb.

Avoid associating with those who regularly use such language; avoid listening to the forms of media that regularly employ it; and avoid excessive drink, which usually loosens my tongue.

Name withheld Cincinnati, Ohio

Think about what you say.

Zygmunt Dembek Suffield, Conn.

Getting older and mellower. I have no need or desire to swear now.

John Klieforth Golden, Colo.

Never allow yourself to start.

Norman Uschold Middleport, N.Y.

Q: The one time I was most embarrassed to be caught cursing was the time when ...

The microphone was on in the sacristy before Mass and I used profanity. I learned a valuable lesson.

Father Michael Deptula Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

I was in the middle of a "blue streak" and the room became silent except for me.

Frank Peck Highlands Ranch, Colo.

Someone was tooting their horn behind me to say "hi" and I thought they were being rude. I gave them the international peace sign. How embarrassing!

Father Ray Morency Dexter, Maine

The first time I swore in front of my parents. I had soap for supper that evening.

Brent Herman Little Falls, Minn.

My husband caught me cursing under my breath at Mass.

Name withheld Somerville, Mass.

My grandchildren reproved me.

Darleen Pilcher Fort Smith, Ariz.

Q: My faith has helped me deal with swearing by ...

Helping me realize that is not what God gave me the gift of speech for.

Joseph Vallee Abbeville, La.

Giving me the example of Jesus' patience and his way of using soft words to turn away anger or to answer hostile people.

Jan Gagen Naperville, Ill.

I have never thought of swearing as a faith issue, except in regard to the Second Commandment or hurting someone by deliberate verbal abuse. This is when it becomes sinful.

Carl Lyman Westford, Mass.

Actually my frustration with certain church institutions, traditions, and clergy has contributed to a lot of my swearing over the years!

Name withheld Muncie, Ind.

I can't imagine our Blessed Mother using such language.

Mary Lou Eisenbeis Gladwin, Mich.

As I have grown in my understanding of social justice, I have come to understand that behaviors like swearing are forms of violence against self and others. People of peace must speak out to raise awareness and to educate their contemporaries.

Carol Gregg Crookston, Minn.

Wanting to be seen as a committed Catholic Christian. That and cursing don't mix.

Linda Erfourth Oklahoma City, Okla.

Realizing God loves everyone, even those who swear.

Name withheld Hill City, S.D.

General Comments

I think swearing and cursing are not so much problems in themselves, but are symptoms of serious societal problems. We have many angry, hateful people out there, and we as a community have not provided a gentle, loving environment for them in their growing years.

Rachel Bliss Kingsport, Tenn.

I was not happy with your inclusion of swear words in the article. Putting quotation marks around them does not make them more scholarly.

Karen Talewsky Rock Hill, S.C.

Swearing is verbal violence and can be the first step toward physical violence. It may seem to be unrelated to the child who takes a gun to school and uses it in anger for revenge. But it is related if the child is allowed to believe that it is OK to take one's anger out on others.

E. D. Lister Lancaster, Calif.

I disagree with Father John Reif's notion that everyone will swear under certain circumstances. When my family or friends hit themselves with a hammer, they say "ouch" or "shoot."

Joanie McKeown Grantsburg, Wis.

The political correctness movement has shown that speech habits can be changed. Now if they just applied the same zeal in excising coarse language from our society.

Stewart Seman Hinsdale, Ill.

I find it amusing when people consider "darn" an acceptable alternative to "damn." It means the same thing; we've just accepted it as a "proper" substitute.

Diana Staresinic Emporia, Kan.

Our choice of words says a lot about ourselves--more than we like to admit.

James Stanley Auxvasse, Mo.

If we just spoke up, we would hear a lot less swearing. I have seen swearing cease at gatherings when just one person said, "We don't swear here." As simple as that.

Edmund J. Hofmann Jackson Heights, N.Y.

What bothers me most about swearing is the casual way people from children up say, "Oh, God." I don't think they're even aware that they're swearing.

Elaine Costales St. Louis, Mo.

It's not the worst thing one can do, but if I can't put a curb on my mouth, will I be able to put a curb on my other appetites?

Jean Edouard Pouliot Newburyport, Mass.

AND THE
SURVEY SAYS ...

1. The amount and the level
of swearing in today's
society:

83%   Is much worse than
      in the past

 9%   Is slightly worse than
      it was.

 4%   Is about what it has
      always been.

 1%   Is better than in the
      past

 3%   Other.

2. In some circumstances,
swearing is perfectly
acceptable.

   agree   33%
disagree   61%
   other    6%

3. Using God's name in vain
is more serious than any
other kind of swearing.

   agree   82%
disagree   13%
   other    5%

4. I think people shouldn't
swear because:

90%   It shows lack of
      respect for yourself
      and others.

49%   It's not
      polite.

29%   The Bible says it's
      wrong.

 2%   I don't think
      swearing is that big
      a deal.

 4%   Other.

5. I think people's ability to
curb their anger would do
much to cut down the use
of foul language.

agree      76%
disagree   19%
other       5%

These results are based on survey
responses from 277 U.S. CATHOLIC
readers and Web site visitors.

Join the conversation--online. In addition to a sample of subscribers, all are invited to respond to U.S. CATHOLIC'S monthly Sounding Board survey at www.uscatholic.org. This month, join U.S. CATHOLIC readers as they discuss the pros and cons of the Internet.