On the Censure and Prohibition of Books

I say 1st. § 1. It is the right of the Church to require that the faithful not publish books which it has not previously reviewed by its own judgment, and to prohibit, for a just cause, books published by whomever.

§ 2. The things prescribed under this title concerning books are applied to daily and periodical publications and to any other published writings whatever, unless something else is clear (Can. 1384).

By natural law itself any use of bad books from which a proximate danger of sinning arises is prohibited. But the Church, by its providence toward the faithful, has always applied diligent care "that, just as good seed is separated from darnel, so also sound and excellent books might be separated from spurious and apocryphal and pernicious books, lest Christian persons, by an incautious or rash use of these, should suffer detriment to the integrity of faith and morals." Apostolic Letters Romani Pontifices (17 Sept. 1900).¹

Moreover, the Index or syllabus of prohibited books, most diligently reviewed and printed again, which he willed to be held as expressly inserted in the Letters Romani Pontifices, the same Pontiff, Leo XIII, approved by apostolic authority and commanded to be observed whole and inviolably by all in every place.

Wherefore, in order that the reading of some book be permitted, it is required that it neither be enumerated in the Index nor belong to any of those classes which the canons proscribe; but by no means is it sufficient that it not be found in the Index. For it would be neither possible nor necessary to register in the Syllabus all and every bad book. It must also be noted that the prohibition extends not only to the reading of books, but also to the retention, publication, defense, and donation of the same.

¹ Cf. Addenda, p. 1144, n. 117.

Question 1. Which books are to be subjected to prior censure?

Response. § 1. Unless ecclesiastical censure has preceded, let there not be published, even by laypersons:

1st. Books of the sacred Scriptures, or annotations and commentaries on the same;

2nd. Books which regard the divine Scriptures, sacred theology, ecclesiastical history, canon law, natural theology, ethics, or other religious and moral disciplines of this kind; books and booklets of prayers, of devotion, or of doctrine and religious, moral, ascetical, mystical instruction, and other such things, although they seem to conduce to fostering piety; and generally writings in which there is something which particularly concerns religion and uprightness of morals;

3rd. Sacred images to be printed in any manner whatever, whether they have prayers adjoined, or are published without them.

§ 2. The license of publishing the books and images about which in § 1 can be given either by the local Ordinary proper to the author, or by the Ordinary of the place in which the books or images are made public, or by the Ordinary of the place in which they are printed, yet in such a way that, if any one of those Ordinaries has denied license, the author cannot seek it from another Ordinary unless he has informed the same concerning the license denied by another.

§ 3. Religious, however, must also first obtain the license of their own major Superior (Can. 1385).

Question 2. What especially is forbidden to secular clerics and religious concerning publishing books and concerning writing in newspapers? What also is forbidden to laypersons concerning writing in certain newspapers?

Response. § 1. Secular clerics are forbidden, without the consent of their Ordinaries, and religious, without the license of their major Superior and of the local Ordinary, to publish books also which treat of profane matters, and to write in daily papers, sheets, or periodical booklets, or to direct the same.

§ 2. But in daily papers, sheets, or periodical booklets which are accustomed to attack the Catholic religion or good morals, let not even Catholic laypersons write anything, unless a just and reasonable cause, approved by the local Ordinary, recommends it (Can. 1386).

Secular clerics need the consent of their Ordinaries; Religious need the license both of the Major Superior and of the local Ordinary; both are subject to this respective ordinance both as regards books, even if they treat of profane matters, and as regards writing in daily papers, sheets, and booklets, and as regards the direction of these. As regards daily papers accustomed to attack the Catholic religion or good morals, let not even laypersons write anything in them without a cause approved by the local Ordinary.

Question 3. Of what Sacred Congregation is license required for publishing those things which pertain to the causes of beatification and canonization of Servants of God?

Response. The license of the Congregation of Sacred Rites is required. - Cf. can. 1387.

Question 4. Whose license is required for publishing books of indulgences, etc.? What is established particularly concerning Apostolic indulgences?

Response. § 1. All books of indulgences, summaries, booklets, sheets, etc., in which concessions of them are contained, are not to be published without the license of the local Ordinary.

§ 2. But the express license of the Apostolic See is required that it may be lawful to publish in type, in whatever language, both an authentic collection of prayers and pious works to which the Apostolic See has annexed indulgences, and a list of apostolic indulgences, and a summary of indulgences either previously collected but never approved, or now for the first time to be gathered from diverse concessions (Can. 1388).

It is of the highest moment that those booklets, sheets, etc., not spread among the people false notions and apocryphal Indulgences. Hence there is need of the license of the local Ordinary.

Question 5. Is a special permission required for publishing collections of decrees of the Roman Congregations?

Response. Collections of decrees of the Roman Congregations cannot be published again, unless license has first been obtained and the conditions prescribed by the Moderators of each Congregation have been observed (Can. 1389).

In this one way provision can be made against the danger that decrees and responses be adulterated.

Question 6. About what must there be certainty in publishing liturgical books and their parts?

Response. In publishing liturgical books and their parts, and likewise litanies approved by the Holy See, there must be certainty concerning their agreement with approved editions by the attestation of the Ordinary of the place in which they are printed or are made public (Can. 1390).

An error in these books can bring great harm to the people of God.

Question 7. Does the approbation of some original text suffice for a new edition, or for a translation of the same into another language? Are chapters excerpted from periodicals and published separately to be held as new editions?

Response. § 1. The approbation of the original text of some work does not suffice either for translations of the same into another language or for other editions; wherefore both translations and new editions of an approved work must be furnished with a new approbation.

§ 2. Chapters excerpted from periodicals and published separately are not considered new editions and therefore do not need a new approbation (Can. 1392).

Question 8. What conditions are required so that versions of the Sacred Scriptures into the vernacular language may be printed in type?

Response. Versions of the sacred Scriptures into the vernacular language cannot be printed in type unless they have been approved by the Apostolic See, or unless they are published under the vigilance of the Bishops and with annotations chiefly excerpted from the holy Fathers of the Church and from learned and Catholic writers (Can. 1391).¹

The reason of the law is lest any man presume to twist the Sacred Letters to his own senses, contrary to that sense which Holy Mother Church, to whom alone has been entrusted the custody of the deposit of Faith and the judgment concerning the sense and interpretation of the divine utterances, has held and holds. Cf. Pius IX, Encycl. Ep., Nostis et Nobiscum.

¹ Cf. Addenda, p. 1109, n. 52.

Question 9. What is the office of censors?

Response. § 1. In all episcopal Curias let there be official censors, who examine things to be published.

§ 2. Examiners in carrying out their office, laying aside all acceptance of persons, are to have before their eyes only the dogmas of the Church and the common doctrine of Catholics which is contained in decrees of general Councils or in constitutions or prescriptions of the Apostolic See and in the consent of approved doctors.

§ 3. Censors are to be chosen from both clergies, commended by age, erudition, and prudence, who in approving and disapproving doctrines go by a middle and safe path.

§ 4. The censor must give his judgment in writing. If this is favorable, the Ordinary may grant the power of publishing; nevertheless, the judgment of the censor is to be prefixed to it, with his name inscribed. Only in extraordinary circumstances and very rarely, by the prudent judgment of the Ordinary, can mention of the censor be omitted.

§ 5. Let the name of the censor never be made known to authors before he has issued a favorable judgment (Can. 1393).

Question 10. How is this license of publishing to be granted? Whether and how must it be clear that it has been granted?

Response. § 1. The license by which the Ordinary grants the power of publishing is to be granted in writing, to be printed at the beginning or at the end of the book, sheet, or image, with the name of the one granting it expressed, and likewise the place and time of the concession.

§ 2. But if the license seems that it should be denied, unless a grave cause requires otherwise, the reasons are to be indicated to the author asking (Can. 1394).

I say. § 1. The right and office of prohibiting books for a just cause belongs not only to the supreme ecclesiastical authority for the universal Church, but also, for their subjects, to particular Councils and to local Ordinaries.

§ 2. From this prohibition recourse is given to the Holy See, but not with suspensive effect.

§ 3. Also the Abbot of a monastery of his own right and the supreme Moderator of an exempt clerical religion, with his Chapter or Council, can prohibit books to their subjects for a just cause; and the same, if there is danger in delay, other major Superiors with their own Council can do, yet under this condition, that they refer the matter as quickly as possible to the supreme Moderator (Can. 1395).

Indeed, the right and office of prohibiting books belongs to those upon whom it is incumbent to watch assiduously and to strive with every means that the integrity of faith and of Christian morals suffer no detriment. Nothing can be thought more pernicious than bad books for staining souls through contempt of religion and enticements to sin. Hence to the Holy See for the universal Church, to particular councils for their subjects, to Bishops for the diocese, to the Abbot of a monastery of his own right, and to the Supreme Moderator of an exempt clerical religion for his own, and to other major superiors if there is danger in delay, this right has been entrusted.

Question 1. Are books condemned by the Apostolic See prohibited everywhere?

Response. Books condemned by the Apostolic See are to be considered prohibited in every place and into whatever language they are translated (Can. 1396). - Cf. Leo XIII, Officiorum ac Munerum, n. 45; S. C. of the Index, 24 Aug. 1864.¹

¹ Cf. Addenda, p. 1145, n. 117 bis.

Question 2. To whom chiefly does it belong to denounce pernicious books? To whom? In what manner are they to be denounced?

Response. § 1. It belongs to all the faithful, especially to clerics and those constituted in ecclesiastical dignity and those who excel in doctrine, to denounce books which they have judged pernicious to local Ordinaries or to the Apostolic See; but by a peculiar title this pertains to Legates of the Holy See, local Ordinaries, and Rectors of Catholic Universities.

§ 2. It is expedient that in the denunciation of bad books not only the title of the book be indicated, but also, as far as can be done, the reasons be set forth why the book is thought to have to be prohibited.

§ 3. For those to whom the denunciation is brought, let it be sacred to keep secret the names of those denouncing.

§ 4. Local Ordinaries, by themselves or, where there is need, through suitable priests, are to watch over books which are published in their own territory or are set out for sale.

§ 5. Books which require a more subtle examination, or concerning which the judgment of the supreme authority seems to be required for attaining a salutary effect, Ordinaries are to refer to the judgment of the Apostolic See (Can. 1397).

Question 3. What does the prohibition of books effect?

Response. § 1. The prohibition of books effects this, that without due license the book can neither be published, nor read, nor retained, nor sold, nor translated into another language, nor in any way communicated to others.

§ 2. A book prohibited in any manner whatever cannot again be brought to light unless, corrections having been made, he who had prohibited the book, or his Superior or successor, has given license (Can. 1398).

Publication, reading, retention, sale, translation, and communication of the book with others are prohibited without license.

Question 4. What books are prohibited by the law itself?

Response. By the law itself are prohibited:

1st. Editions of the original text and of the ancient Catholic versions of sacred Scripture, even of the Oriental Church, published by any non-Catholics whatever; likewise versions of the same into whatever language, prepared or published by the same;

2nd. Books of any writers whatever, defending heresy or schism, or striving in any way whatever to overthrow the foundations themselves of religion;

3rd. Books which deliberately attack religion or good morals;

4th. Books of any non-Catholics whatever which treat expressly of religion, unless it is established that nothing against the Catholic faith is contained in them;

5th. The books about which in can. 1385, § 1, n. 1 and can. 1391; likewise from those about which in the cited can. 1385, § 1, n. 2, books and booklets which narrate new apparitions, revelations, visions, prophecies, miracles, or which introduce new devotions, even under the pretext that they are private, if they have been published without the prescriptions of the canons being observed;

6th. Books which attack or deride any of the Catholic dogmas, which defend errors proscribed by the Apostolic See, which detract from divine worship, which contend to overthrow ecclesiastical discipline, and which deliberately assail with reproaches the ecclesiastical hierarchy, or the clerical or religious state;

7th. Books which teach or commend superstition of any kind, sorceries, divination, magic, evocation of spirits, and other things of that kind;

8th. Books which establish dueling or suicide or divorce as lawful; which, treating of Masonic sects or other societies of the same kind, contend that these are useful and not pernicious to the Church and civil society;

9th. Books which expressly treat, narrate, or teach lascivious or obscene things;

10th. Editions of liturgical books approved by the Apostolic See, in which anything has been changed, so that they do not agree with authentic editions approved by the Holy See;

11th. Books by which apocryphal indulgences, or indulgences proscribed or revoked by the Holy See, are disseminated;

12th. Images printed in any manner whatever of Our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of Angels and Saints, or of other Servants of God, alien from the sense and decrees of the Church (Can. 1399).¹

Propugnantes, that is, those defending by reasons brought forward, those trying to persuade, not merely those asserting or narrating. Foundations of religion are such as the immortality of the human soul, the existence of God, miracles, and truths of this kind; in whatever manner, seriously or with ridicule. Acatholici are all those who do not belong to the Catholic Church. Ex professo, that is, not incidentally, but by design. If it is established that no error concerning this faith is contained in these books, they are not prohibited. Impugnant, those who by reasons brought forward deny a dogma. Detrahunt, they speak badly about someone by taking away his reputation. Lascivious and obscene things: books which inculcate, treat, defend, and teach the nature of lascivious matters, which declare the manner of doing lascivious things; pornographic books, by which in practice harm is brought to morals; wherefore many books in which love affairs are narrated are not understood, although these also are very often prohibited by natural law.

The use of books about which in can. 1399, n. 1, and of books published contrary to the prescription of can. 1391, is permitted only to those who devote themselves in any way to theological or biblical studies, provided that the same books have been published faithfully and integrally, and that in their prolegomena or annotations the dogmas of the Catholic faith are not attacked (Can. 1400). Wherefore editions of the original text and of the ancient Catholic versions of sacred Scripture, even of the Oriental Church, published by any non-Catholics whatever; likewise versions of the same into whatever language, prepared or published by the same; and books published contrary to the prescription of canon 1391, namely versions of the sacred Scriptures in a vernacular language published without due approbation, or without the vigilance of Bishops, and without annotations, are permitted only to those who apply themselves to theological and biblical studies, that is, who are learned men devoted to these sciences, all beginners of sacred theology, and those who are occupied with theology and the Hebrew and Greek language in the schools of Seminaries.

¹ Cf. Addenda, p. 1146, n. 118.

Question 5. Who are not bound by the ecclesiastical prohibition of books?

Response. Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, Bishops, even titular Bishops, and other Ordinaries, the necessary cautions having been applied, are not bound by the ecclesiastical prohibition of books (Can. 1401).

Question 6. What can Ordinaries grant in this matter?

Response. § 1. Ordinaries, as concerns books prohibited by the law itself or by decree of the Apostolic See, are able to grant license to their subjects only for individual books and in urgent cases only.

§ 2. But if they have obtained from the Apostolic See a general faculty of permitting their subjects to retain and read proscribed books, let them grant it only with discernment and for a just and reasonable cause (Can. 1402).

Question 7. Does the Apostolic faculty of reading prohibited books carry with it the faculty of reading books proscribed by Ordinaries?

Response. § 1. Those who have obtained the apostolic faculty of reading and retaining prohibited books cannot for that reason read and retain any books whatever proscribed by their Ordinaries, unless in the apostolic indult express power has been given to the same persons of reading and retaining books condemned by anyone whatever.

§ 2. Moreover, they are bound by a grave precept to guard prohibited books in such a way that these do not come into the hands of others (Can. 1403).

Question 8. Is it licit to sell books treating of obscene things?

Response. Let booksellers not sell, lend, or retain books expressly treating of obscene things; let them not have other prohibited books for sale unless they have obtained due license from the Apostolic See, and let them not sell them to anyone unless they can prudently judge that they are legitimately sought by the buyer (Can. 1404).

Question 9. Does a license obtained with regard to forbidden books exempt someone from the prohibition of natural law?

Response. § 1. By a license obtained from anyone, no one is in any way exempted from the prohibition of natural law against reading books which present proximate spiritual danger to himself (Can. 1405).