To read the writings of Covenant-breakers is not forbidden
to the believers and does not constitute in itself an act of Covenant-breaking.
Indeed, some of the Bahá'ís have the unpleasant duty to read such literature as
part of their responsibilities for protecting the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh.
However, the friends are warned in the strongest terms against reading such
literature because Covenant-breaking is a spiritual poison and the calumnies
and distortions of the truth which the Covenant-breakers give out are such that
they can undermine the faith of the believer and plant the seeds of doubt
unless he is fore-armed with an unshakable belief in Bahá'u'lláh and His Covenant
and a knowledge of the true facts.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a
letter dated October 29, 1974; compilation: Developing Distinctive Baha’i
Communities, NSA of USA, 1998 edition)