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A Topic of Moral Theology

Censorship and Prohibition of Books

Prior censorship; books prohibited by law; permission to read them; penalties.

The works themselves ask 131 questions under this heading — see them together with their answers.

Within this topic

Also asked about as…

banned books · forbidden books · imprimatur · index of forbidden books · reading anti-catholic books · reading heretical books (ed.)

In the index as Books · Loan of prohibited books · Newspapers · Censorship of books · Spanish Index · Clauses: · General Decrees concerning the censure and prohibition of books · Various words: · Bishop · Book · Books condemned absolutely or restrictively by the General Decrees · Edition · Laws on the censure and prohibition of books: · Leo XIII · Ordinary of the place · Prescriptions of natural law · Congregation of the Index · Retention of a book · Benedict XIV · Clement VIII · Officiorum ac Munerum · Clerics · Prohibition of a book · Prohibition of books

In the manuals

Read the manuals side by side → — each work's whole treatment in its own column

Summa of Moral Theology (Summa Theologiae Moralis)

Hieronymus Noldin, S.J. — 2 passages

Vol. II, Part Third. On the Precept…, Book Third. On the Prohibition of Books, nn. ¶1 & 698 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Manual of Moral Theology (Manuale Theologiae Moralis)

Ludovicus Wouters, C.SS.R. — 6 passages

Vol. I, Bk. II, Tr. II, Diss. II, Part IV. On the Prior Censorship of Books and their Prohibition, nn. ¶1, 1113 & 1114 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. I, Bk. II, Tr. II, Diss. II, Pt. IV, Section II. On the Prohibition of Books, n. ¶1 — We shall speak first about the prohibition itself, then about prohibited books, and finally about exemption from the prohibiting law and about permission to use prohibited books.Read in context →

Vol. I, Bk. II, Tr. II, Diss. II, Pt. IV, Sect. II, Chapter I. On the Prohibition Itself, nn. 1118 & 1119 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Moral Theology: A Complete Course (McHugh & Callan)

John A. McHugh, O.P., and Charles J. Callan, O.P.

Vol. I, Pt. II, Q. I, Art. 9. The Sins Against B…, Causes of Scandal, n. 1458 — Persons Who Give Scandal on Account of Obscenity. Persons Who Give Scandal on Account of Obscenity.—(a) In case of obscene pictures or statues, scandal is given by the artists, painters, sculptors or others who make the images, and by the responsible persons who place t… Read in context →

Institutions of Moral Theology (Institutiones Theologiae Moralis)

Gennaro Bucceroni, S.J. — 13 passages

Vol. IV, On the Constitution *Officiorum ac munerum*, nn. 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304, 1305, 1306, 1307, 1308, 1309, 1310, 1311, 1312 & 1313 (13 passages — hover a number to read it)

Moral Enchiridion, Comprising Select Decrees and Definitions of the Holy See, of Ecumenical Councils and of the Sacred Roman Congregations (Enchiridion Morale), Fourth Edition

Gennaro Bucceroni, S.J. — 15 passages

Bucceroni, Moral Enchiridion (4th ed., 1905), On the Constitution *Officiorum ac Munerum*, nn. 1301, 1302, 1304, 1306, 1308, 1310 & 1312, 1313 (15 passages — hover a number to read it)

Synopsis of Moral and Pastoral Theology

Adolphe Tanquerey, S.S. — 9 passages

Vol. II, Appendix: On the Censorship and Prohibition of Books, nn. 1232, 1233, 1234, 1235, 1236, 1237, 1238, 1239 & 1240 (9 passages — hover a number to read it)

On the Prohibition and Censorship of Books (De prohibitione et censura librorum)

Arthur Vermeersch, S.J. — 110 passages

Vermeersch, On Forbidden Books, Prooemium, n. 1 — Division into four Parts 1. In order that, which is our purpose, we may place the present law concerning the prohibition and censorship of books in a clearer view, we divide this our study into four principal Parts. The … Read in context →

Ch. I, I. On the Prohibition of Books, nn. 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)

Ch. I, II. On the Previous Censorship of Books, nn. 7, 8 & 9 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Chapter II: The Present Usefulness of Laws of This Kind, nn. 10, 11 & 12 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Chapter III: Brief Description of the Laws Which Are in Force Today, nn. 13, 14, 15, 16 & 17 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)

Chapter IV: Abrogation of the Earlier Law, nn. 18, 19, 20, 21 & 22 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)

Chapter V: The Universal Force of These Laws, nn. 23 & 24 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Ch. VI, I. What General Principles Are to Be Used, nn. 25, 26 & 27 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Ch. VI, II. Applications or Particular Cases, nn. 28, 29, 30, 31 & 32 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)

Ch. VI, A. Book, Booklet, Writing, nn. 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 & 41 (9 passages — hover a number to read it)

Ch. VI, 3. On the Signification of Various Words and Clauses, nn. 42, 43, 44, 45 & 46 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)

Chapter VII: What Acts the Prohibition of a Book Forbids by Positive Law, n. ¶1 — A full prohibition must be distinguished from a less full or imperfect prohibition.Read in context →

Ch. VII, I. On Perfect Prohibition, nn. 47, 48, 49, 50 & 51 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)

Ch. VII, II. On Less Perfect Prohibition, n. 52 — Prohibition of publishing 52. The prohibition of publishing a book without previous approval does not of itself prohibit the reading or retention of a book published without the prescribed censorship. For neither do the … Read in context →

Chapter VIII: Obligation of Conscience. Gravity of Fault, nn. 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60 & 61 (9 passages — hover a number to read it)

Chapter IX: By What Power Books Are Prohibited, nn. 62, 63 & 64 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Title II: On the Censure of Books, n. 104 — End and reason of being of censure 104. 1. The censure of books was chiefly instituted for this reason: that subjects which indeed can profit much, but can also harm the spiritual utility of the faithful, may be proposed… Read in context →

Tit. II, Ch. II, Article 40, n. 116 — Discretion of the Bishop 116. 1. If nothing seems to stand in the way of the publication of the book. Therefore the faculty of denying approval is greater for the Ordinary than that of reprobating a book already publishe… Read in context →

Vermeersch, On Forbidden Books, Part Three: Summary of the…, I. Laws on the Prohibition of Books and Works, nn. 128, 129, 130 & 131 (4 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vermeersch, On Forbidden Books, Part Three: Summary of the…, II. Laws on Previous Censure, nn. 132 & 133 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vermeersch, On Forbidden Books, Part Three: Summary of the…, III. On the Sanctions of These Laws, and the Faculty of Reading and Retaining Prohibited Works, n. ¶1 — 133 bis. A) On Sanctions. 1. Penalties ferendae sententiae (49). 2. Excommunication latae sententiae, specially reserved to the Holy See, if the case of article 47 has occurred (47). 3. Excommunication latae sententiae r… Read in context →

Ch. I, Art. 1, I. Indults for Permitting the Reading of Prohibited Books, nn. 134–152 (19 passages)

Ch. I, Art. 2, I. Indults for Permitting the Reading of Prohibited Books, nn. 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159 & 160 (8 passages — hover a number to read it)

Ch. I, Art. 2, II. Faculties of Reading and Retaining Prohibited Books, nn. ¶1, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165 & 166 (7 passages — hover a number to read it)

Ch. II, I. List of Writers Whose W…, Together with the Day of the Decree, n. 167 — Formulae and Catalogues 167. Understand the clause as All works, where another is not indicated; but the day as the day of the last decree, if the writer has been condemned several times. Where by decree there is proscri… Read in context →

Ch. II, II. List of Works Proscribed by Special Decree After the Index of Leo XIII Was Published, n. 168 — 168. Having imitated the example of the new Index, we have given the day on which the decree was issued, not the day on which it was made public. ALVI, Ciro. S. Francesco d'Assisi. (Novel.) - Milan, Palermo, Naples, 1903… Read in context →

A Handbook of Moral Theology (Koch–Preuss)

Antony Koch; adapted and edited by Arthur Preuss — 69 passages

Vol. IV, Pt. III, Chapter VI: The Law of the Church Concerning Books, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶4, ¶5 & ¶6 (6 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. IV, Pt. III, Ch. VI, Section 1: The Preventive Censorship of Books, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶4, ¶5, ¶6, ¶7, ¶8, ¶9, ¶10 & ¶11 (11 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. IV, Pt. III, Ch. VI, Section 2: The Prohibition of Books, nn. ¶1–¶42 (42 passages)

Vol. IV, Pt. III, Ch. VI, Section 3: The Index of Forbidden Books, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶4, ¶5, ¶6, ¶7, ¶8, ¶9 & ¶10 (10 passages — hover a number to read it)

Theologia Moralis: Principles — Responses — Counsels

Arthur Vermeersch, S.J. — 20 passages

Vol. III, Bk. III, Tr. I, Title III: On the Censorship and Prohibition of Books, nn. ¶1, 889 & 890 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. III, Bk. III, Tr. I, Chapter I: On the Prior Censorship of Books, nn. 891, 892, 893, 894, 895, 896 & 897 (7 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. III, Bk. III, Tr. I, Chapter II: On the Prohibition of Books, nn. 898, 899, 900, 901, 902, 903, 904, 905 & 906 (9 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. III, Bk. III, Tr. II, Appendices, To n. 889. - Appendix XIX. Historical Matters Concerning the Censorship and Prohibition of Books, n. ¶1 — 1. Particular decrees by which books were condemned are already had in the First Council of Nicaea (325), against the book of Arius, Thalia; then against the books of Pelagius, of the Manichaeans, etc. The first catalogu… Read in context →

Institutiones Morales Alphonsianae

Clement Marc, C.SS.R.

Vol. I, Supplement: Dispositions o…, Pt. II, SECTION THIRD, TRACTATE II: On Ecclesiast…, APPENDIX OF THE AUTHOR, n. ¶1 — ON THE CONSTITUTION "OFFICIORUM ET MUNERUM".. Those things which in this constitution are prescribed or prohibited are found arranged in better order, for the dispositive part, in can. 1385-1405; as regards penalties, in can. 2318. Generally all things are confirmed… Read in context →

Summa Theologiae Moralis

Benedict Henry Merkelbach, O.P. — 8 passages

Vol. I, Special Moral Theology, Treatise: On Divine Faith, Fourth Part: On the Vices …, Question Two: On Sins Indi…, Article III: On the Reading and Dissemination of Prohibited Writings, n. 769 (8 passages — hover a number to read it)

The 1917 Code of Canon Law

Promulgated by Pope Benedict XV — 22 passages

Title XXIII: Of the Previous Censorship of Books and Their Prohibition, can. 1384 — § 1. The Church has the right of requiring that the faithful not publish books which she by her own judgment has not previously reviewed, and of prohibiting, from a just cause, books published by any persons whatever. § … Read in context →

Tit. XXIII, Chapter I: Of the Previous Censorship of Books, cann. 1385, 1386, 1387, 1388, 1389, 1390, 1391, 1392, 1393 & 1394 (10 passages — hover a number to read it)

Tit. XXIII, Chapter II: Of the Prohibition of Books, cann. 1395, 1396, 1397, 1398, 1399, 1400, 1401, 1402, 1403, 1404 & 1405 (11 passages — hover a number to read it)

The Casuist: A Collection of Cases in Moral and Pastoral Theology

Various; ed. S. Woywod, O.F.M., and J. A. McHugh, O.P. — 27 passages (filed under the subtopics)

Vol. I, Case XX: Forbidden Books, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶4, ¶5, ¶6, ¶7, ¶8, ¶9, ¶10, ¶11 & ¶12 (12 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. I, Case XXX: Concerning the Perusal of Private Revelations, nn. ¶1–¶15 (15 passages)

Back to Morality

Thomas Slater, S.J. — 9 passages (filed under the subtopics)

Chapter XVII: Reserved Cases, nn. ¶330, ¶331, ¶332, ¶333, ¶334, ¶335, ¶336, ¶337 & ¶338 (9 passages — hover a number to read it)

Cases of Conscience, Proposed by Cardinal de Lugo, by Fr. Beniamino Elbel, by Fr. Ioannes Petrus Gury and by Other Authors, and Resolved (Casus conscientiae)

Gennaro Bucceroni, S.J. — 9 passages (filed under the subtopics)

160. The Reading of Books of Heretics, nn. 1, 2, 3 & 4 (9 passages — hover a number to read it)

Theologia Moralis Sancti Alphonsi: Reduced into a Compendium

Anthony Konings, C.SS.R. — 11 passages (filed under the subtopics)

Vol. II, Treatise on Censures, Appendix III: On Censures …, § I. On Excommunications Latae Sententiae Reserved to the Roman Pontiff in a Special Manner, nn. ¶1702, ¶3, ¶1703, ¶1704, ¶4, ¶5, ¶6, ¶1705, ¶7, ¶1706 & ¶1707 (11 passages — hover a number to read it)

Compendium of Moral Theology

Aloysius Sabetti, S.J., and Timothy Barrett, S.J. — 21 passages (filed under the subtopics)

Vol. I, Tr. VII, On the Censure and Prohibition of Books, nn. 344, 344, Q. 1, 344, Q. 2, 344, Q. 3, 344, Q. 4, 344, Q. 5, 344, Q. 6, 344, Q. 7, 344, Q. 8, 344, Q. 9, 344, Q. 10, 345, 345, Q. 1, 345, Q. 2, 345, Q. 3, 345, Q. 4, 345, Q. 5, 345, Q. 6, 345, Q. 7, 345, Q. 8 & 345, Q. 9 (21 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. I, Pt. I, Tract VII. On theological …, Ch. III, Art. III, § 3. On the reading of heretical books, n. 530 — 530. Already for centuries the Church with watchful vigilance has proscribed bad books and forbidden the reading of them under grave penalties. There will be speech below about those ecclesiastical penalties in the treat… Read in context →

Treated under the broader heading The Commandments of the Church — Slater, Manual of Moral Theology · Bucceroni, Moral Enchiridion — these works do not divide the matter as finely as we do here, so their treatment stands one heading up (ed.)