69. No One is to Presume to Defend Another

Let every precaution be taken so that no one in the monastery presumes, under any circumstance, to defend another monk or become, as it were, his protector, ² even though they are closely connected by blood.

³ Let the monks not presume to do this in any way whatsoever because it can give rise to the most grievous scandals. ⁴ Should anyone cross this line, let him be kept strictly under control.