THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
Cyril. It is also declared that the dead and clean animals are both unclean; furthermore, it states that anyone who touches them will become defiled. As it is written, "And when any cattle dies which you use for food, he that touches its dead body shall be unclean until evening; and he that eats its dead meat shall wash his clothes, and shall be unclean until evening; and he that carries its dead body shall wash his clothes, and shall be unclean until evening" (Lev. 11:39-40). This suggests, I believe, that one should not associate with a brother who engages in fornication, immorality, idolatry, wrongdoing, drunkenness, or is gluttonous; with such a person, one must not even share a meal (1 Cor. 5:11).
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In other words, if anyone known for their uprightness, who has already been cleansed and received into spiritual fellowship through faith, becomes tainted by the deadness of sin, he is rendered "unclean," as stated, and is to be shunned; for a person who engages in dead works will undoubtedly defile those who associate with him. But if someone is defiled, he should be purified with water in the evening; the significance of this has been clearly elucidated in the previous discourse. Moreover, one must note that both the eater of their dead and the one who touches them are deemed unclean according to the law, which neither absolves the participant from vice and guilt nor exonerates the one who approaches them; we must remain vigilant not only to avoid the actions of the wicked but also to refrain from fellowship with them, for "Whosoever toucheth pitch shall be defiled" (Sir. 13:1); this statement is indeed true. The law has chosen examples to communicate moral qualities, as can be seen in what follows; for it states, "Ye shall not defile your souls with any creeping animal, nor make yourselves unclean by them, that ye may be unclean by them: for I am the Lord your God" (Lev. 11:43-44). What defilement could the death of an animal or the act of touching a corpse bring upon the human soul? What harm could potentially arise from food consumed and later expelled, as the Saviour mentions (Matt. 15:17)? Palladius. Indeed, I think you are correct; your reasoning is sound.