CHAPTER IV: On Obscene Books

9. "Books which professedly treat of, narrate, or teach lascivious or obscene matters, since account must be taken not only of faith, but also of morals, which are accustomed easily to be corrupted by the reading of books of this kind, are altogether prohibited."

In this article is set forth the general prohibition of obscene books, that is, books which treat of shameful things for this end, that they may excite lust; but there is no discussion of books which ought to furnish necessary anatomical notions. Cf. Lega, Praelect., t. III, n. 358.

That such books be prohibited, it is required that they treat of these professedly, that is, not in passing, but either in the whole book or in a notable part; or narrate, that is, describe shameful deeds of men, whether true or fictitious; or teach, that is, explain how shameful acts are performed.

Hence it is clear that all books called "pornographic" are proscribed. As regards novels, namely those which treat of profane or vicious love, very many of our age can be called professedly obscene; yet since not all narrate obscene matters themselves, they are not condemned universally by this article. But as St. Alphonsus very well observes: "By Natural Law they are often prohibited of themselves on account of the grave damage which they inflict on readers; for in them the less the poison appears, the more it harms" (App. de Prohib. libr., c. I, n. 9).

10. "Books of authors, whether ancient or recent, which are called classics, if they are infected with this very stain of shamefulness, on account of elegance and propriety of speech are permitted only to those whom the reason of office or teaching excuses; nevertheless in no way are they to be handed over or read aloud to boys or adolescents, unless expurgated by solicitous care."

By this article two things are established: 1. An exception is made to the general prohibition for classical books. Those are called classics which are held as examples of proper and more elegant speech, and according to some (Lega, n. 360; Vermeersch, p. 74), even their versions into another idiom.

It is said: a) If they are infected with this very, etc.; therefore the exception does not favor classical books condemned for another cause, for example on account of heresy.

b) Whom the reason of office or teaching excuses; by reason of office those are excused who professedly compose or judge works of letters, and to them the prefects of Universities, colleges, etc., seem to be numbered; by reason of teaching all who teach letters are to be excused, but not those who teach only the first rudiments of language or other sciences, although nobler, for example Theology (Palmieri, Op. Theol. mor., ed. 3, II, n. 1181).

c) Excuses; wherefore this reading is permitted to them only insofar as it is necessary or useful to them, and always with the natural law of avoiding proximate danger of sinning being kept safe.

2. To this exception a restriction is added for boys or adolescents. Under the name of adolescents, do there come also young men who at the age of 20 or 24 years attend Universities? Some seem to deny this, but it must altogether be affirmed; for from the general expression boys or adolescents, it is plain that the mind of the legislator is to embrace all who have not attained manly age. Now adolescence lasts at least up to the twenty-fifth year of age. Thus Lega, Van Coillie, Vermeersch, Genicot, and others. Yet Noldin observes that the reason of office or teaching excuses those pupils who prepare themselves in Universities for composing literary works or for teaching letters. Cf. Ami du Cl., 1911, p. 848; Vermeersch, p. 73.