Chapter Twenty-Three
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
On Excommunication for Faults
IF A BROTHER is found stubborn or disobedient or proud or murmuring, or if he is opposed to anything in the Holy Rule and a scoffer of the commandments of his Superiors, let him be admonished by his Superiors once and again in secret, according to the command of our Lord. (Cf. Matt. 18:15–16). If he does not amend his ways let him publically be taken to task before the entire community. If he does not reform even then, let him be placed under excommunication—but only if he is capable of coming to terms with this punishment, On the other hand, if he is behaving like a scoundrel, let him undergo corporal punishment.