160. The Reading of Books of Heretics

1. Antoninus, a bishop, hearing that heretical books are being spread in his diocese, without delay orders them to be brought to himself, so that he may read them, examine them, and, insofar as there is need, proscribe them. Can Antoninus read the aforesaid books of heretics in the Case?

R. Affirmatively. For bishops, according to necessity or time, can well read the books of heretics, C. 1, Dist. 37. And the contrary opinion of certain persons was seen in the Holy Office as too rigorous, Albitius, de Inconst. in fide, c. 30, n. 204. Namely, bishops are the born judges of the faith, and to their office it belongs to defend the faith, and therefore to ward off from the sheep committed to them the harmful pastures of faith. Whence it is of their office to prohibit the reading of depraved books, and also, if it is necessary, to denounce them to the Holy See. Leo XIII, C. Officiorum; I. M. 1301. Now how could they ever execute such an office unless they read the aforesaid books? Commentar. in C. Apostolicae Sedis n. 13, ed. 5; D'Annib., Comment. in C. Apost. Sed., ed. 4, n. 41.

2. Alphonsus, owner of a typographical workshop, and Alfredus, corrector in the same workshop, in which books of heretics have until now been printed, doubt whether they have incurred excommunication, and their confessor himself also doubts.

It is asked: Whether Alphonsus and Alfredus have incurred, in the Case, excommunication reserved in a special mode to the Supreme Pontiff, art. 2 of the first series of C. Apost. Sed.?

R. Affirmatively. For first as regards Alphonsus, he cannot indeed be counted among readers, nor among defenders, nor even among printers from the fact that he is owner of the workshop, himself provides the expenses, and by his will and mandate the books are printed. Nevertheless he must be counted among retainers, since he very truly retains them in his own workshop. But Alfredus, because he is corrector, is reckoned among readers. Wherefore both incur the aforesaid excommunication. Comment. in C. Apost. Sed. n. 13.

3. Seius, having lapsed into heresy, wrote several heretical books, which he himself was continually reading and correcting in order to prepare new editions. He was converted to the faith, and his uncertain confessor asks whether, besides the excommunication because of heresy, he also incurred excommunication because of the reading of heretical books.

R. The more common opinion affirms. And by the rigor of law and of the law it must be affirmed, because Seius in reality was retaining and reading books of a heretic championing heresy. Yet D'Annib., Comm. in Const. Apost. Sed., n. 41, note 44, says: "I fear lest this be true; for who, in the proper and common meaning, would say that a heretic reading his own books reads books of heretics?"

4. Guido, an editor of books, gratuitously furnishes the expenses of the edition of a heretical book of Vincentius, his friend. Does he incur excommunication reserved in a special mode to the Supreme Pontiff, art. 2, first series, C. Apost. Sed.?

R. Negatively, as is clear from the preceding case; because he does not read, does not print, does not retain. Nevertheless he incurs excommunication art. 1, as a favorer of heretics. Comm. in C. Apost. Sed. n. 9 seqq.