One could certainly argue the statement or it's implications without attributing the statement to a particular author. "Suppose someone argued...(statement believed to be heretical). How would you respond as a Christian?"

Christian A would likely recognize his own statement, but since it is not attributed to him, he cannot claim any breach of the civil law. But I would hope that in such a case, that Christian B would confront Christian A privately and with love as his motivation.

I remember some folks getting in trouble on another discussion board for merely participating in a discussion in which the "accused" was not an active participant. And while most of us believed that his lack of participation was quite deliberate and designed to "excuse" him from justifying his claims, nevertheless the folks were wrong to continue a public discussion of the matter without his participation. And this was after numerous attempts to resolve the matter privately were ignored. However once the offender published his claims, making them public, he then assumed the liability to justify his claims (which he never has - he just clams up and has his underlings ban anyone on the board who brings up the matter). But as Pilgrim said, it's a matter of motive. If the motive is to confront a brother in love about a continuing sin or continuing error, even the whole Matthew 18 procedure - right up to and including excommunication - is designed to be redemptive.

-R