Reply To: Loshon Hora shittas different than the Chofetz Chaim

Rabbeinu Yona (Shaarei Teshuva 3:228): Now it is necessary to think deeply about this matter to understand its root. We have said previously that it is permitted to speak disparagingly about a sinner because of the wrong which is in his hands, if it is known that he has not repented. Thus it is permitted to degrade sinners that steal or rob, or cause damage or oppress, humiliate, embarrass, shame or slander others. This applies also to those who do not return what they stole or do not pay for the damage they have caused or have not asked forgiveness for the harm they have caused others.

[even though the halacha doesn’t require it] [“Yet let no man strive, neither let any man reprove” Hoshea 4:4]

However there is another reason for chastising the sinner before condemning him. If he fails to chastise first it is possible that the listeners will think that he is lying and that he simply made up all the slander and that is why he didn’t first reveal his claims directly to the sinner but concealed his words from him.

Similarly, if the speaker has an established reputation of not being biased against anyone and not flattering anyone. If he will not talk differently about a person whether he is there or not – meaning that everything he will say when not in the person’s presence is the same as when he is. And furthermore that he is not afraid of any man and he has a reputation for always telling the truth. In such a case he will not be suspected when speaking about another man’s sins – even when the sinner is not present. This idea is alluded by our Sages (Arachin 15b), Rabbi Yossi said,” ‘I never said a thing and turned back”. In other words, “I never said anything about a person when he wasn’t there which I would have suppressed if he had been present. Similarly (Arachin 16a), “Everything which is said in the presence of 3 people is not considered lashon harah.” In other words, “Since I made the statement in public therefore it will become known by the person I am speaking about and therefore it is like I said it in his presence.”