Obligation To Correct Error. Help!

[CatherineM]

Here's some from the Catechism. I'll move to Canon Law and see if there is anything there.

2469 "Men could not live with one another if there were not mutual confidence that they were being truthful to one another."263 The virtue of truth gives another his just due. Truthfulness keeps to the just mean between what ought to be expressed and what ought to be kept secret: it entails honesty and discretion. In justice, "as a matter of honor, one man owes it to another to manifest the truth."264

2470 The disciple of Christ consents to "live in the truth," that is, in the simplicity of a life in conformity with the Lord's example, abiding in his truth. "If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth."265

2471 Before Pilate, Christ proclaims that he "has come into the world, to bear witness to the truth."266 The Christian is not to "be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord."267 In situations that require witness to the faith, the Christian must profess it without equivocation, after the example of St. Paul before his judges. We must keep "a clear conscience toward God and toward men."268

2472 The duty of Christians to take part in the life of the Church impels them to act as witnesses of the Gospel and of the obligations that flow from it. This witness is a transmission of the faith in words and deeds. Witness is an act of justice that establishes the truth or makes it known.269

All Christians by the example of their lives and the witness of their word, wherever they live, have an obligation to manifest the new man which they have put on in Baptism and to reveal the power of the Holy Spirit by whom they were strengthened at Confirmation. 270

2480 Every word or attitude is forbidden which by flattery, adulation, or complaisance encourages and confirms another in malicious acts and perverse conduct. Adulation is a grave fault if it makes one an accomplice in another's vices or grave sins. Neither the desire to be of service nor friendship justifies duplicitous speech. Adulation is a venial sin when it only seeks to be agreeable, to avoid evil, to meet a need, or to obtain legitimate advantages.

[CatherineM]

A Couple of things from Canon Law

Can. 747 §2 The Church has the right always and everywhere to proclaim moral principles, even in respect of the social order, and to make judgements about any human matter in so far as this is required by fundamental human rights or the salvation of souls.

Can. 759 The lay members of Christ’s faithful, by reason of their baptism and confirmation, are witnesses to the good news of the Gospel, by their words and by the example of their christian life. They can also be called upon to cooperate with Bishops and priests in the exercise of the ministry of the word.

Can. 769 Christian teaching is to be explained in a manner that is suited to the condition of the hearers and adapted to the circumstances of the times.

Can. 879 The sacrament of confirmation confers a character. By it the baptised continue their path of christian initiation. They are enriched with the gift of the Holy Spirit, and are more closely linked to the Church. They are made strong and more firmly obliged by word and deed to witness to Christ and to spread and defend the faith.

Matthew 18:15-17 15 "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

[Marie-Therese]

Ummm...spiritual works of mercy apply here?

--counseling the doubtful
--instructing the ignorant
--admonishing sinners

I think those ought to cover about any issue that you're talking about.

Prayers that your sticky situation is resolved peacefully with God's grace!!

Peyton

[Guest KevinSymonds]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1883853' date='Jun 5 2009, 01:18 AM']I can't explain right now, but pretty soon I'll probably need to justify myself, and I'll need to do it CHARITABLY. This is critical. I've made a mistake and things spiralled out of control.

What I need urgently are any sources and quotes that can be dug up from authoritative sources which prove that we as Catholics have the obligation to correct error in other Catholics and enlighten non Catholics with Truth.

I wish I could explain the situation, but trust me, this is extremely important.

Thanks in advance. You guys are the best.[/quote]


the corporal and spiritual works of mercy "admonish the sinner." "Instruct the ignorant."