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Editions and Versions of Sacred Scripture
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Vermeersch, On Forbidden Books
Tit. I, Chapter II: On Editions of the Original Text and of Non-Vernacular Versions of Sacred Scripture · Tit. I, Ch. II, Article 5 · Tit. I, Ch. II, Article 6 · Tit. I, Chapter III: On Vernacular Versions of Sacred Scripture · Tit. I, Ch. III, Article 7 · Tit. I, Ch. III, Article 8
Tit. I, Chapter II: On Editions of the Original Text and of Non-Vernacular Versions of Sacred Scripture
Subject of the chapter
What the special subject of this chapter is, is most clearly perceived from the inscription itself.
Tit. I, Ch. II, Article 5
Editions of the original text and of the ancient Catholic versions of Sacred Scripture, even of the Eastern Church, published by non-Catholics of any kind, although they appear to have been faithfully and integrally edited, are permitted only to those who devote themselves to theological or biblical studies, provided, however, that the dogmas of the Catholic faith are not attacked in the prolegomena or notes.
Non-Catholic editions are prohibited
69. 1. By this article, non-Catholic editions of the Sacred Bibles or of ancient Catholic versions, even of the Eastern Church, are prohibited to all who do not devote themselves to theological or biblical studies; and this even if the editions are faithful or appear so.
Non-Catholic, a word which here is to be taken broadly, so that it also designates Jews and unbelievers. For the article concerns non-Catholics of any kind whatever.
Yet they are permitted to students of Theology or Sacred Scripture
2. The same editions are permitted to those who devote themselves to biblical or theological studies. Nor is it required that the editions be faithful or appear so, provided the condition appended at the end is preserved.
Who these are
3. Laymen or clerics can devote themselves to theological or biblical studies, in a public college or privately, as doctors or beginners.1
They devote themselves to them who are occupied in these studies sufficiently frequently that they have them among their habitual "occupations," either constantly or from some occasion which demands a certain space of time. But if this is sufficiently constant, they enjoy a perpetual faculty; if only from some occasion, for example of preparing an examination, after they have made the examination, the faculty ceases together with the occasion.
But one who by a merely transitory act, for example for writing a sermon, has wished to elucidate some point of Scripture, cannot use the benefit of this article.
Yet priests who fairly often give sacred sermons, or who preserve the laudable practice of assigning some part of their time to sacred studies, easily enjoy it.2
Biblical studies are not studies of the Hebrew or Greek language alone. Therefore, to students who are not at the same time studying biblical or theological sciences, non-Catholic editions cannot be proposed without an apostolic faculty.3
Condition to which the faculty is subject
4. Provided, however, that in the prolegomena or annotations the dogmas of the Catholic faith are not attacked.
Attack says more than mere contradiction, but supposes this contradiction strengthened with reasons.
Dogmas of the Catholic faith, and not only the manner of acting of the Church, for example in prohibiting versions of Sacred Scripture. Indeed, the plural word dogmas seems to excuse the use of a non-Catholic edition in which even some dogma is attacked, but once only or very rarely. We are confirmed by the benignity of the preceding article.
1 On May 19-23, 1898, the Congregation of the Index declared that the article has force concerning all beginners of theology.
2 Indeed Palmieri on this place judges that the right of using these editions, from a certain equity, perseveres even when studies have been completed in those who devoted labor to these studies in public schools. Yet this is perhaps excessive if they have completely abandoned those studies.
3 Sacred Congregation of the Index, June 21, 1898. Therefore the negative response does not affect students of theology. Cf. Wernz, n. 111, note 57.
Tit. I, Ch. II, Article 6
In the same manner and under the same conditions, other versions of the Sacred Bibles, whether in Latin or in another non-vernacular language, published by non-Catholics, are permitted.
Force of the article
70. 1. This article transfers to all versions in a non-vernacular language, even non-ancient ones, yet under the same law, the benign faculty of the preceding article.
Tit. I, Chapter III: On Vernacular Versions of Sacred Scripture
Subject of the chapter
Connected with the immediately preceding chapter, and again very clearly defined by the title, the matter is here proposed.
Tit. I, Ch. III, Article 7
Since by experience it is manifest that if the Sacred Bibles in the vernacular language are permitted everywhere without distinction, more detriment than usefulness arises from this on account of the rashness of men: all versions in the vernacular language, even those made by Catholic men, are altogether prohibited unless they have been approved by the Apostolic See, or published under the vigilance of Bishops with annotations drawn from the holy Fathers of the Church and from learned and Catholic writers.
General force of the article concerning versions in the vernacular language
71. 1. Authentically, as regards the substance,1 by this article there is promulgated the discipline which had already long since been introduced by various declarations of the Holy See;2 and there is no longer required the license of the parish priest or confessor which, from the fourth rule of the former Index, had to be sought for reading a Catholic version even illustrated with legitimate notes. Cf. Arndt, pp. 132-134, n. 112.
Clause: "Even by Catholic men."
2. When in this article it is said: even those made by Catholic men, it is clearly indicated that the cause of the prohibition is not to be placed in the religion of the author, but in the quality of the work, which in vernacular language, without notes, transfers the Sacred Bibles to popular use. But the Supreme Pontiff is by no means thinking here of condemning versions of non-Catholics unless they observe conditions which they will never satisfy. Besides, that conditioned toleration is taken away in the following article.
Usage of the Holy See
3. The Holy See has not yet approved any version lacking notes.
Clause: "Under the vigilance of Bishops."
4. The clause under the vigilance of Bishops imposes on authors or publishers the law of seeking episcopal approval, unless they prefer the edition to be proscribed; and it imposes on Bishops a special care concerning these editions of the Sacred Bibles made in the vernacular language.
What if published without episcopal approval?
But Bibles adorned with Catholic notes, but lacking episcopal approval, which were published before this Constitution, do not seem to be proscribed, on account of the general rule given above, n. 28.
How the condition of annotations is satisfied
5. It is sufficient that the annotations be drawn from the holy Fathers and from learned and Catholic writers mediately and equivalently. Mediately, if you place notes consonant with the tradition of the Church, whence Catholic writers are accustomed to draw their explanations; equivalently, if in place of notes you publish a "paraphrastic" version such as Carrière made. For thus at the same time you translate and propose the Catholic interpretation. Cf. Arndt, p. 129, n. 110.
Benign exception from usage
6. Where usage stands thus, certain parts seem today able to be translated and published even without these scholia: for example, the book of Tobit, the epistles, the Gospels of the year, which are inserted in many Euchologia.
What of sacred histories
7. The special sanctions of this article by no means fall upon histories of either Testament by which, for the use of young people, as it were a summary of the Sacred Bibles is handed down. Péries, cited work, p. 83.
Persons exempt from this prohibition
8. Versions, although destitute of notes, can nevertheless be read by those who devote themselves to theological or biblical studies. This can easily be drawn from article VIII, section 2, which grants even non-Catholic versions to the same persons.
1 For the words under the vigilance of Bishops are now added.
2 Sacred Congregation of the Index, June 13, 1757; January 7, 1836.
Tit. I, Ch. III, Article 8
All versions of the Sacred Bibles, in whatever vernacular language, made by non-Catholics of any kind, are interdicted; and especially those which are spread by Bible Societies, condemned more than once by the Roman Pontiffs, since in them the most salutary laws of the Church concerning the publication of divine books are utterly set aside.
Nevertheless, these versions are permitted to those who devote themselves to theological or biblical studies, with those things preserved which have been established above (n. 5).
General proscription
71 bis. 1. This article prohibits versions in the vernacular language made by non-Catholics of any kind (therefore even by unbelievers); and it punishes with a special mark the versions which are published by Bible Societies.
Mitigation
2. Yet, with the laws stated above preserved, the prohibition is removed in favor of those who apply themselves to theological or biblical studies.
Koch–Preuss
Vol. IV, Pt. III, Ch. VI, Section 2: The Prohibition of Books
a) All editions of the original text and the ancient Catholic versions of Sacred Scripture, including those of the Eastern Church, when published by non-Catholics; also all translations of the Bible or any part thereof, into whatever tongue, when made by non-Catholics or edited by them.5
5 C. I. C., can. 1399.
The use of such editions of Holy Scripture and vernacular translations as lack the required approbation is permitted to those who are engaged in theological or scriptural studies, provided, however, that the editions are faithfully and completely edited and do not attack the doctrines of the Catholic Church, either in their prolegomena or notes.6
6 C. I. C., can. 1400.
Marc, Institutiones Morales
Vol. I, Appendix: On the Constitut…, Tit. I, CHAPTER III: On Vernacular Versions of Sacred Scripture
- "Since it is manifest by experience that, if the Sacred Bibles in the vernacular tongue are permitted everywhere without discrimination, more detriment than utility arises thence on account of the rashness of men; all versions in the vernacular language, even those made by Catholic men, are altogether prohibited, unless they shall have been approved by the Apostolic See, or edited under the vigilance of Bishops, with annotations drawn from the holy Fathers of the Church and from learned and Catholic writers."
Therefore versions in the vernacular language, even those made by Catholic men, are altogether prohibited, unless either condition is verified, either that, adorned with the prescribed annotations, they are edited under the vigilance of Bishops, or that, if they lack notes, the approval of the Holy See is present. Yet they are permitted to those who give work to theological or biblical studies (under the restriction placed in n. 5); for we think the faculty made through the second paragraph of art. 8 is to be applied to them.
That they can be published under the vigilance, or with the approval, of the Bishop, they must be enriched with annotations drawn from the holy Fathers of the Church, etc.; yet it does not seem to be required on that account that all annotations be drawn from this source, but some can be drawn even from learned non-Catholics, for example those looking to geography or archaeology, not however to faith or morals (A. S. S., 30, p. 184). Paraphrastic versions seem to be assimilated to versions with annotations.
Note. The article does not touch sacred histories drawn from the Sacred Bible; or those parts which are inserted in prayer books; or Epistles and Gospels of the liturgical year, if they are printed separately.
- "All versions of the Sacred Bibles, in whatever vernacular language, made by any non-Catholics whatever, are interdicted, and especially those which are spread abroad through Biblical Societies, condemned more than once by the Roman Pontiffs, since in them the most salutary laws of the Church concerning the editing of divine books are fundamentally disregarded.
"Nevertheless these versions are permitted to those who give work to theological or biblical studies: those things being observed which are established above (n. 5)."
Merkelbach, Summa Theologiae Moralis
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
770. As regards Sacred Scripture, by a general rule, by the law itself there are prohibited:
- "Editions of the original text and of ancient Catholic versions of Sacred Scripture, even of the Eastern Church, published by any non-Catholics whatsoever" (can. 1399, § 1).
- "Versions of the same into any language whatsoever, made or published by the same" (can. 1399, § 1).
- "Books of the Sacred Scriptures or annotations and commentaries on the same, if they have been published without the prescriptions of the canons being observed" (can. 1385, § 1, and 1399, § 5), that is, without previous censorship, even by laymen.
- "Versions of the Sacred Scriptures into the vernacular tongue... unless they have been approved by the Apostolic See, or unless they are published under the vigilance of the Bishops and with annotations principally excerpted from the holy Fathers of the Church and from learned and Catholic writers"2 (can. 1391 and 1399, § 5). This holds for editions after the year 1897: for the law does not have retroactive effect; but before the year 1897 the approval of the bishop was not required, but for Catholic editions a version with annotations sufficed.
2 "Books of any writers whatsoever (even Catholics) which defend heresy or schism"1 (that is, not merely stating it in passing, with few words and as if doing something else, but attempting to persuade by adding reasons, proving or defending it); - "or which strive in any way to overthrow the very foundations of religion" (whether directly, by reasons, or indirectly, by insults; whether by serious attack, or even by jokes and derision) (can. 1399, § 2).
But it should be noted: a) the exception of can. 1400: "The use of the aforesaid books... is permitted only to those who in any way devote themselves to theological or biblical studies, provided the same books have been faithfully and integrally published and the dogmas of Catholic faith are not attacked in their prolegomena or annotations." They are permitted, namely, to professors, students, and those who, after their studies have been completed, continue to study Scripture; that is, whoever habitually, not by a merely passing act, cultivate these studies, whether in schools or privately;
b) there is no longer any prohibition of reading Scripture in the vernacular tongue, nor an obligation of asking permission from the parish priest or confessor, provided the edition is approved.
- This must be taken copulatively (com. int. May 20, 1923). - Paraphrastic versions seem to be assimilated to versions with annotations.
- Annotations which set forth profane science, geography, archaeology, etc., can be drawn from profane authors.