Denunciation (Latin denunciare) is making known the crime of
another to one who is his superior. The employment of
denunciation has its origin in the Scriptures. Christ ordains
(Matthew 18:15-17), "If thy brother shall offend against thee,
go, and rebuke him between thee and him alone. If he shall hear
thee thou shalt gain thy brother. And if he will not hear thee,
take with thee one or two more: that in the mouth of two or
three witnesses every word may stand. And if he will not hear
them: tell the church. And if he will not hear the church, let
him be to thee as the heathen and publican". As the object of
this denunciation was the bettering of one's neighbour, by
admonition, not vindictive punishment, it has received the name
of charitable or evangelical denunciation. The term paternal
correction is also applied to it. After the Church had obtained
an official status before the world, it built up a process of
criminal law, and judicial denunciation took the place of
evangelical. The difference consists in t