ACC ~ Mark 7 v28

DANGERS OF DISCIPLINARY EXCESS

AUGUSTINE: Some people, intent on severe disciplinary precepts, admonish us to rebuke the restless and not to give what is holy to dogs, [1] to consider a despiser of the church as a heathen, [2] to cut off from the unified structure of the body the member who causes scandal. [3] These may so disturb the peace of the church that they try prematurely to separate out the wheat from the chaff [4] before the proper time, and blinded by this pretext, they themselves then become separated from the unity of Christ. FAITH AND WORKS 4.6. [5]

[1] cf. Mt 7:6; 15:26.

[2] Mt 18:17.

[3] Mt 5:30; 18:8-9; Mk 9:42-48.

[4] Mt 13:29-30.

[5] Cetedoc 0294, 4.6.41.9; FC 27:227**.