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A listener named Julianne writes to Father Dave with a question of faith.\xa0 \u201cI\u2019m a mom of two very active children who love playing and watching sports. Recently at a basketball game, my 11-year-old son turned to me and asked whether booing was a sin. I thought it was a really insightful question that recognized that the opposing team players (and referees/umpires!) are people, and that this is just a game; the booing or jeering is part of the performance of the sport. Or is it? As much as we may not want a team to succeed, we don\u2019t actually wish ill will on them. This question is more directed toward behavior at a professional sports game versus a youth sports game (where spectators usually cheer for both teams, or at least keep things positive \u2013 can\u2019t speak for everyone here, but that\u2019s what we do). Could you help clear this up for us please?\u201d

Father Dave points out that if you were to say derogatory things or jeer or boo at someone you don\u2019t know, that would be uncharitable and therefore sinful. \u201cJesus gives us the big bullseye and that is, \u2018Love everyone. Pray for your enemies. Do good to those that hurt you,\u201d Father Dave says, \u201cbut is there a difference between genuinely meaning ill will, and kind of being swept up in the game?\u201d

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Father Dave talks about how he\u2019s been to college and pro sports games and heard fans yell terrible things at the players.\xa0 What he heard was sinful, but he acknowledges that context makes a difference. \u201cI think it's different how we frame it for an 11-year-old,\u201d Father Dave says.\xa0 \u201cI think it's an important formative time to be teaching kids about good sportsmanship and morality, and Julianne's doing something right because if her son\u2019s asking the question, he's getting some good moral formation either in the home or at church or wherever.\u201d\xa0\xa0

Father Dave also suggests fans can be just as passionate cheering positively for their team without ever having to jeer at or boo the other team.\xa0

\u201cMaternity Leave Matt,\u201d who is a father of three kids, says that when it comes to his 7-year-old\u2019s soccer and softball teams, kids are encouraged to cheer for their own teams, but some light \u201cribbing\u201d is OK as long as it is not mean spirited or an attack on any other player.\xa0

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Father Dave talks about the distinction between hoping the other team loses so your team wins versus attacking another individual. \u201cIn the Church, we'd use the Latin term, ad hominem,\u201d Father Dave says. \u201cAd hominem means towards the person\u2026so I think we can maybe draw the same analogy back here into this arena for Julianne. If the other team scores, and we let out a sound of disappointment, and it's a boo, I would be reluctant to call that a sin, versus somebody yelling out something personal about another player.\u201d