Fraternal Correction

FRATERNAL CORRECTION. – This is a private admonition addressed to a person in order to remove that person from sin. The motive of fraternal correction is charity, and its purpose is the amendment of the sinner (Sum. Theol., 2ª-2ª, q. 33, n. 1); it is therefore distinct from so-called judicial correction, carried out by a superior as such, with the aim of safeguarding first and foremost the good of the community and only indirectly restoring the errant person to the path of good.

Fraternal correction proceeds from the natural law, being a special application of the love one owes to one’s neighbor; but it has also been reaffirmed and perfected by the positive divine law (Mt. 18, 15). In order to be obliged to fraternal correction, however, certain conditions must be present, namely: 1) to know that one’s neighbor has fallen into a grave fault; 2) to believe that the correction will be effective; 3) also to believe that the sinner will not recover unless admonished; 4) that fraternal correction not be excessively burdensome for the person who must carry it out (Sum. Theol., 2ª-2ª, q. 33, n. 3).

The order to be observed in fraternal correction is the one taught by Jesus Christ himself (Mt. 18, 15): it should be made secretly; if this proves ineffective, one should proceed to report the matter to superiors. This order must be observed so as not to compromise the reputation of the neighbor whom one is obliged to admonish; nevertheless, one may depart from it when the sin or evil is already public or close to becoming inevitably public; and one must depart from it when otherwise third parties or the community would suffer harm. Fraternal correction must always be given with gentleness and charity, with humility and kindness; never, therefore, in a spirit of vengeance or out of ill will to humiliate the fallen or erring brother.

(Ist. Enc. Catt.)
BIBLICAL CORRECTORS – Dominican Correctory executed by Ugo di S. Caro – Vatican Library, Ottob. lat. 293, f. 45°. (13th–14th century).