A Topic of Moral Theology
The Faculty of Reading and Retaining Prohibited Books
Who may grant leave to read prohibited books, to whom, on what conditions, and how far the faculty reaches.
The works themselves ask 11 questions under this heading — see them together with their answers.
In the index as Books · Faculties of reading or permitting prohibited books · Bishop · Sacred Scripture · Clauses: · Heresy · Reading Of Books · Regulars · Booksellers · Index · Apostolic See · Apostolic Vicar · Capitular vicar · Cardinals · Confessor and bad newspapers · Congregation de Propaganda Fide · Congregation of the Index · Editors · For the effect of impugning · Heretics · In the diocese · Interpretation of the Constitution Officiorum · Master of the Sacred Palace · Necessity
In the manuals
Read the manuals side by side → — each work's whole treatment in its own column
Compendium of Moral Theology of Fr. John Peter Gury, S.J., with the Notes of Antonio Ballerini, S.J.
Vol. II, Treatise On Censures, Ch. II, Namely: 1. on Excommunicat…, Art. I, Appendix I. On the Crime of Heresy, the Reading of Depraved Books, and the Index, n. 988 (4 passages — hover a number to read it)
On the Prohibition and Censorship of Books (De prohibitione et censura librorum)
Tit. I, Chapter IX: On the Faculty of Reading and Retaining Prohibited Books, n. ¶1 — Argument of the chapter After the prohibitions have been reviewed, there is suitably joined the tempering of a faculty which removes the obstacle of positive law, but by no means of natural law. For the law is not simply… Read in context →
Tit. I, Ch. IX, Article 23, nn. ¶1 & 95 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)
Tit. I, Ch. IX, Article 24, n. ¶1 — For granting licenses of reading and retaining any prohibited books whatever, the Roman Pontiffs have set over the Sacred Congregation of the Index. Nevertheless, the Supreme Congregation of the Holy Office enjoys the sa… Read in context →
Tit. I, Ch. IX, Article 25, n. ¶1 — Bishops and other Prelates possessing jurisdiction as if episcopal can grant license for individual books, and only in urgent cases. But if the same have obtained from the Apostolic See a general faculty, so that they ca… Read in context →
Tit. I, Ch. IX, Art. 25, I. On Ordinary Power, n. 96 — Which Prelates possess this faculty 96. 2. Prelates to whom quasi-episcopal jurisdiction belongs are Nuncios, Apostolic Vicars, Capitular Vicars, and Superiors of exempt Regulars, both Generals and Provincials, and also,… Read in context →
Tit. I, Ch. IX, Art. 25, II. On Delegated Power, n. 97 — Faculties delegated by the Holy See 97. Greater faculties are sometimes delegated by the Apostolic See to the same Prelates, by which they are permitted to concede to their subjects a general faculty of reading and retai… Read in context →
Tit. I, Ch. IX, Article 26, n. ¶1 — All who have obtained an apostolic faculty of reading and retaining prohibited books cannot on that account read and retain any books whatever, or periodicals proscribed by Ordinaries of places, unless in the apostolic i… Read in context →
Tit. I, Ch. IX, Art. 26, I. On the Former Part, n. 98 — An apostolic faculty does not permit books prohibited by Bishops 98. 1. The Holy See does not lack the power of permitting someone books prohibited by Ordinaries, but the intention or will is lacking unless the indult gi… Read in context →
Tit. I, Ch. IX, Art. 26, II. On the Other Part, n. 99 — Precept of custody 99. Diligent custody is prescribed under grave guilt, yet its manner is not defined. The guilt will be grave if negligence creates grave danger lest a proscribed book be read by those to whom it is pro… Read in context →
Institutiones Morales Alphonsianae
Vol. I, Appendix: On the Constitut…, Tit. I, CHAPTER IX: On the Faculty of Reading and Retaining Prohibited Books, nn. ¶23, ¶24, ¶25 & ¶26 (4 passages — hover a number to read it)
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, n. 775 (13 passages — hover a number to read it)
Compendium of Moral Theology
Vol. I, Tr. VII, On the Censure and Prohibition of Books, nn. 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 (10 passages — hover a number to read it)
Treated under the broader heading Prohibited Books — Noldin, Summa of Moral Theology · Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology · Bucceroni, Institutions of Moral Theology · Koch–Preuss · Prümmer, Manuale Theologiae Moralis · Konings, Theologia Moralis · Concina, Compendium · The Casuist · 1917 Code of Canon Law — these works do not divide the matter as finely as we do here, so their treatment stands one heading up (ed.)