What do you do when your brother will not let you "tell him his fault between you and him alone" (Mat 18:15)?

[DanielJohn2300]

Our gospel reading at mass recently was Matthew 18:15-20. Our Lord says to us that if our brother sins (presumably an excommunicable offense because of verse 17), we must “tell him his fault between you and him alone” (verse 15). It’s likely that our Lord is referring to a brother who does not know the gravity of his sin, or even that it is a sin at all; because if he knew, then there would be no need for us to “tell him his fault.”

As for my brother (a fellow parishioner), I am so certain of his need to know about his sin that I’m being called to abstain from communion until I “go and tell him his fault between” me “and him alone.” Here is my question. What if he keeps refusing to meet with me for no reason? Should I ask our priest to deny him communion until he meets with me? I cannot tell our priest what the sin is, because that would go against what our Lord says.

 

[De_Maria]

Our gospel reading at mass recently was Matthew 18:15-20. Our Lord says to us that if our brother sins (presumably an excommunicable offense because of verse 17), …As for my brother (a fellow parishioner), I am so certain of his need to know about his sin that I’m being called to abstain from communion until I “go and tell him his fault between” me “and him alone.” Here is my question. What if he keeps refusing to meet with me for no reason? Should I ask our priest to deny him communion until he meets with me? I cannot tell our priest what the sin is, because that would go against what our Lord says.

Here’s what I would do.

I would talk to my priest. Tell him the details. Ask him whether I should talk to him or whether he wants to do it.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

If you absolutely feel you must tell this person he’s a giant sinner, and both of you are showing up to Mass for communion, just grab him before or after the Mass. Preferably before, since he will be less likely to run away from you as you are both at Church.

I think you’re going a bit far to want to deny yourself communion till you confront this guy.