CHAPTER IV: On Printers and Publishers of Books

43. "Let no book subject to ecclesiastical censure be printed, unless at the beginning it bears the name and surname both of the author and of the publisher, and besides the place and year of printing and edition. But if in some case, for just causes, the name of the author seems to be passed over in silence, the power of permitting this is with the Ordinary."

Only books ought to bring forth at the beginning the name of the author, etc. Therefore writings which do not reach the bulk of a book, and even periodical publications, are not touched by these prescriptions, as it seems.

44. "Let printers and publishers of books know that new editions of the same approved work require new approval; moreover this approval, bestowed on the original text, does not avail for its version into another idiom."

The S. C. of the Index, having been asked: "Whether chapters excerpted from periodicals and issued separately (commonly tirages a part) must be considered new editions and therefore need new approval," responded: Negatively (Nouv. Rev. Theol., 30, p. 510).

45. "Books condemned by the Apostolic See are to be considered prohibited everywhere among the nations, and into whatever language they may be translated."

46. "Any booksellers whatever, especially those who glory in the Catholic name, are neither to sell, nor lend, nor retain books treating professedly of obscene matters: let them not have the other prohibited books for sale, unless they have obtained permission from the Sacred Congregation of the Index through the Ordinary; nor let them sell them to anyone unless they prudently can judge that they are legitimately sought by the buyer."

Therefore the bookseller is not held to interrogate the buyer, but it suffices that from the circumstances of persons he can form for himself a prudent judgment concerning the legitimate petition of the buyer. - As regards obscene books, see art. 10.