@@ -35,9 +35,9 @@ By contrast the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus] when Disowning a person, is not trying to do anything at all to that person. We are trying to define for the world's benefit what the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus] is; in particular that membership in the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus] is not consistent with the type of behavior for which the person is Disowned. The individual does lose a few rights (chiefly the right to use the facilities of the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus] or participate as an active member in its activities), but only to such an extent as is unavoidable if the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus] is to maintain its self-definition; it is not done to make the disownee feel bad, and the disownee is in no worse position than any other nonmember of the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus] after Disownment.
Members of the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus] are encouraged to dissociate themselves from punitive disciplinary practices and to stress the limited nature of what we are doing in Disowning: Disownment is not excommunication, it is a simple declaration of disunity, and the grounds on which it has arisen.
-When members manifest their disunity with the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus], by inconsistent or disorderly conduct, creation of dissension in the community, adoption of principles and practices contrary to the ["Virian Virtues"|VirianVirtues] and ["Senseless Sins"|SenselessSins], or through an unwillingness to comply with the [
necessary rules|VirianPolicy]
of our on-line community, it is just and requisite, that after endeavoring to restore them without effect, the body should testify its disunity with such erring and refractory members; at the same time earnestly desiring, that they may be convinced of the error of their ways, and that through unfeigned repentance, and a consistent orderly conduct in future, they may be reunited. This being the utmost extent of our discipline respecting offenders, it is very evident that from the right exercise thereof, no degree of persecution or imposition can be justly inferred; for the imposition would rest entirely on the part of those who might insist on being retained as members, whilst at open variance with the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus], either in principle or practice.
+When members manifest their disunity with the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus], by inconsistent or disorderly conduct, creation of dissension in the community, adoption of principles and practices contrary to the ["Virian Virtues"|VirianVirtues] and ["Senseless Sins"|SenselessSins], or through an unwillingness to comply with the necessary rules of our on-line community, it is just and requisite, that after endeavoring to restore them without effect, the body should testify its disunity with such erring and refractory members; at the same time earnestly desiring, that they may be convinced of the error of their ways, and that through unfeigned repentance, and a consistent orderly conduct in future, they may be reunited. This being the utmost extent of our discipline respecting offenders, it is very evident that from the right exercise thereof, no degree of persecution or imposition can be justly inferred; for the imposition would rest entirely on the part of those who might insist on being retained as members, whilst at open variance with the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus], either in principle or practice.
This is the extent of the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus]'s censure against irreclaimable offenders, they are disowned as members of our religious community; which is recommended to be done in such a disposition of mind, as may convince them, that we sincerely desire their recovery and restoration.
As can be seen from the context, the reference to irreclaimable offenders in this last passage does not mean that the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus] thinks that anyone is "permanently irreclaimable" but only that the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus] has done all that we can, for the time being, in efforts to persuade the offender to repent, so that the integrity of the [Church of Virus|ChurchOfVirus] requires a testimony of disunity.
