Reply To: Hilchos Shmiras Haloshon

The Chofetz Chaim’s stating that it is a Mitzvah to mock apikorsum is not a contradiction to his stating that there are no apikorsum today. He is telling us the Halachos of Loshon Hora and that is one of the halachos. It happens not to be relevant at the moment, but it is still a halacha of LH, and thus, must be included. Also, it applied at one time and will apply again B’ezras Hashem (I’m not saying B’ezras Hashem that there will be apikorsim but rather, that we will have the conditions needed for someone to be able to be an apikorus). The reason he gives for apikorsum having the din of “anusim” is that one of the conditions (of their having the din of kofrim) is that they must be given “tochacha” and there is no one today who can “tochacha”. Perhaps, someday soon, such a person will arise.

I am also wondering if the Chofetz Chaim is saying that there definitely can’t possibly be any apikorsum today or only that it is rare and unlikely. I’m not sure from the way he is quoted if the possibility of there being any apikorsum today is completely ruled out.