III. On Books Which Defend Errors Proscribed by the Holy See

84. Books are condemned which defend errors proscribed by the Apostolic See.

What errors are

1. Errors: propositions condemned at least as erroneous.

Apostolic See

2. By the Apostolic See: by the Supreme Pontiff either immediately, or by means of a Roman Congregation, namely the Holy Office.¹

Among these must be numbered books which defend or champion errors condemned by the Syllabus. Sacred Congregation of the Index, May 19-23, 1898, to 2.

To defend?

3. They defend: they do not merely assert, but are eager to vindicate; with sufficient abundance of words, so that the inscription of chapter 5 obtains.

N.B. When excommunication is committed

N.B. Those who teach or defend propositions condemned by the Apostolic See under penalty of excommunication latae sententiae, or that the practice of inquiring into the name of an accomplice is lawful, as it had been condemned by Benedict XIV, incur excommunication latae sententiae simply reserved to the Roman Pontiff (Const. Apostolicae Sedis, first excommunication of the second series).

¹ With us is Pennacchi, A. S. S., cited work, n. 52. Besides, on January 13, 1892 (N. R. Th., t. 24, p. 170), to the second, the Holy Office responded that by acts proceeding from the Apostolic See are designated acts "which mediately" proceed from it, that is, through the Sacred Congregation. But that, as the distinguished Planchard asserts, Rev. Th. Fr., cited place, n. 53, a proposition condemned by an ecumenical Council is not comprehended, this we by no means see. And decrees of a Council of this sort have customarily been promulgated through a pontifical Constitution.