Chapter — Marc, Institutiones Morales
CHAPTER VIII: On Newspapers, Sheets, and Periodical Booklets
- "Newspapers, sheets, and periodical booklets which with set purpose attack religion or good morals are to be held proscribed not only by natural Law, but also by ecclesiastical Law.
"But let Ordinaries take care, where there is need, opportunely to warn the faithful concerning the danger and harm of reading of this kind."
Sheets are prohibited; understand periodical sheets, as the whole context suggests.
The added prohibition of positive Law is founded on the presumption of danger, and this brings it about that even those in whom by accident the danger ceases nevertheless are obliged by the present law, while the prohibition of Natural Law must be judged entirely from danger. Therefore the prohibition of the Church is more severe and more extended. This, besides, brings it about that even parts innocent in themselves of publications of this sort are proscribed (Pennacchi, n. 59).
Some understand religion to be natural religion only, and therefore say that only those periodical sheets are condemned which habitually defend atheism, materialism, and other errors of this kind; others understand only true or Catholic religion. The S. C. of the Index refused to solve the question. Cf. Vermeersch, n. 92, p. 111.
What the proper signification of this word with set purpose may be, we said above. As regards newspapers specifically, with set purpose signifies that it be done habitually: so that the publication itself or series can be called hostile to religion or good morals; whence it can by no means be conceded that all liberal newspapers are prohibited by this article.
Note. Authors ask whether obscene images are comprehended in this article, or in art. 9. More truly one must respond by distinguishing: Either they are inserted in the text of a prohibited book or newspaper or any sheet; then insofar as they are part of a forbidden work they are proscribed. Or they are printed separately, and then they are not reached by our Constitution, even if they are bound together in a collection. But certainly they are prohibited by Natural Law (Can. cont., 20, p. 305).
- "Let no Catholic, especially from among ecclesiastical men, publish anything in newspapers, or sheets, or periodical booklets of this kind, unless a just and reasonable cause suggests it."
Therefore of itself it is not licit regularly to send articles, even those treating of a scientific matter, to bad periodicals, nor to announce one's things to be sold, leased, etc., in depraved newspapers; yet according to circumstances this latter thing can more easily become licit, especially if the same matter to be announced is handed over not only to that depraved periodical, but also to other good ones. A just and reasonable cause will be present if some article, insulting to the faith or hierarchy, must be refuted in the newspaper itself.
Note. It will not be beside the matter here to add the prescriptions which recently were promulgated for seminaries in the Motu proprio Sacrorum Antistitum: "We altogether forbid any newspapers, or reviews, however excellent, to be read by the same [that is, by young men in seminaries], the conscience of the moderators being burdened, if they shall not have religiously taken care that this not occur" (A. A. S., II, p. 668). These prescriptions are also to be religiously observed by students giving work to studies in monasteries and religious congregations (S. C. Consist., 25 Sept. 1910; A. A. S., II, p. 740). Yet, as is clear from the Letter of 20 Oct. 1910 to the Archbishop Primate of Hungary (A. A. S., II, p. 855), by these documents only newspapers and reviews concerning political matters or social and scientific questions, which are agitated day by day, are prohibited. Nothing prevents Superiors or teachers, if there is question of scientific questions, from reading useful articles to the students, or handing them over to be read in their presence.