A chara, - The admonishment, "Judge not and you shall not be judged", has been much quoted in recent days, with the implication that we should all keep our mouths tight shut when anyone offends against the commandments, particularly the sixth and ninth. This has been taken to mean that Christ wishes us not to judge our neighbour in relation to offences committed. It appears, therefore, that Catholics are left in a quandary as we are also urged to follow through on the Spiritual Works of Mercy, one of which tells us to "admonish the sinner".Obviously, if we do not have the full facts before us we may make rash judgements and it is against such judgements that Our Lord warns us. But, as St Francis de Sales tells us, it is not judging to see or acknowledge a thing that is openly wrong, and which may be a cause of scandal for those who are made aware of the situation.Let us allow the words of St Augustine to clarify the situation: "Concerning those things, then, which are known to God, unknown to us, we judge our neighbours at our peril. Of this the Lord has said, `Judge not'. But concerning things which are open and public evils, we may and ought to judge and rebuke, but still with charity and love, hating not the man, but the sin, detesting not the sick man, but the disease. For unless the open adulterer, thief, habitual drunkard, traitor, were judged and punished, that would be fulfilled which the blessed martyr Cyprian has said: `He who soothes a sinner with flattering words, administers fuel to his sin.'"In true charity then, it is the duty of every Catholic to practice the Spiritual Works of Mercy, but always with the good of the sinner in mind, and in the hope that they will return to full communion with the fold. - Is mise,Deirdre Nic Eanruig, Upper Leeson Street, Dublin 4.