The Prior Censorship of Books

The examination of a book before publication: what must be submitted, and to whom.

The works themselves ask 29 questions under this heading — see them together with their answers.

Within this topic

Also asked about as…

church approval before publishing · imprimatur · nihil obstat (ed.)

In the index as Bishop · Censorship of books · Previous censure · Various words: · Edition · Book · Loan of prohibited books · Printing of a book · Regulars · Books of heretics · Clerics · Newspapers · Bad books · Books condemned absolutely or restrictively by the General Decrees · Clauses: · Congregation of the Index · Excommunication · Periodic pamphlets · Retention of a book · Sacred Scripture · Workers of the typography · "Imprimatur" · Apostolic Vicar · Apostolic missionaries

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. — 7 passages

Vol. II, Part Third. On the Precept…, Book Third. On the Prohibi…, Question Third. On the Censorship of Books, nn. 708, 709, 710, 711, 712, 713 & 714 (7 passages — hover a number to read it)

Manual of Moral Theology (Manuale Theologiae Moralis)

Ludovicus Wouters, C.SS.R. — 3 passages

Vol. I, Bk. II, Tr. II, Diss. II, Pt. IV, Section I. On the Prior Censorship of Books, nn. 1115, 1116 & 1117 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Institutions of Moral Theology (Institutiones Theologiae Moralis)

Gennaro Bucceroni, S.J. — 2 passages

Vol. IV, On the Constitution *Officiorum ac munerum*, nn. 1312 & 1313 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Synopsis of Moral and Pastoral Theology

Adolphe Tanquerey, S.S. — 5 passages

Vol. II, Appendix: On the Censorship and Prohibition of Books, nn. 1232, 1233, 1234, 1235 & 1236 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)

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

Arthur Vermeersch, S.J. — 49 passages

Title II: On the Censure of Books, nn. 104 & 105 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Tit. II, Chapter I: On the Prelates Set Over the Censure of Books, n. ¶1 — Subject of the chapter This chapter first proposes the censures which are reserved to the Holy See or subject to a special condition; then it defines the Prelate to be approached by seculars and by regulars.Read in context →

Tit. II, Ch. I, Article 30, n. ¶1 — In whose hands there is the power of approving or permitting editions and versions of the sacred Bibles is clear from those things which were established above (n. 7). 105 bis. By this article we are thrown back to the s… Read in context →

Tit. II, Ch. I, Article 31, nn. ¶1 & 106 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Tit. II, Ch. I, Article 32, nn. ¶1 & 107 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Tit. II, Ch. I, Article 33, nn. ¶1 & 108 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Tit. II, Ch. I, Article 34, nn. ¶1 & 109 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Tit. II, Ch. I, Article 35, nn. ¶1, 110, 111 & 112 (4 passages — hover a number to read it)

Tit. II, Ch. I, Article 36, nn. ¶1 & 113 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Tit. II, Ch. I, Article 37, nn. ¶1 & 114 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Tit. II, Chapter II: On the Office of Censors in the Previous Examination of Books, n. ¶1 — Argument of the chapter Once the person of the censors has been defined, we now suitably come to describing the manner in which they ought to exercise their office.Read in context →

Tit. II, Ch. II, Articles 38 and 39, nn. ¶1 & 115 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Tit. II, Ch. II, Article 40, nn. ¶1 & 116 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Tit. II, Chapter III: On Books to Be Submitted to Previous Censure, n. ¶1 — Argument of the chapter Once the general rule concerning books which are to be submitted to previous censure has been handed down, a special sanction concerning secular clerics is enacted.Read in context →

Tit. II, Ch. III, Article 41, n. ¶1 — All the faithful are bound to submit to previous ecclesiastical censure at least those books which regard the divine Scriptures, Sacred Theology, ecclesiastical History, Canon Law, natural Theology, Ethics, or other reli… Read in context →

Tit. II, Ch. III, Art. 41, I. On Books, n. 117 — What books are 117. 1. Books, therefore not writings, nor journals, nor sheets, nor periodic pamphlets, at least of smaller bulk. In itself, however, there are comprehended periodic publications of greater bulk, whose in… Read in context →

Tit. II, Ch. III, Art. 41, II. On Any Writings Whatever, n. 118 — Comparison with the former law 118. 1. While in that former part the decree of Pius IX, June 2, 1848, for the Roman dominion was reported almost to the letter, the other part has been so furnished that, once it has been … Read in context →

Tit. II, Ch. III, Article 42, n. ¶1 — Men of the secular clergy should not publish even books which treat of arts and merely natural sciences without consulting their Ordinaries, so that they may furnish an example of an obedient mind toward them. The same m… Read in context →

Tit. II, Ch. III, Art. 42, I. On Books, n. 119 — The obligation is imposed 119. 1. Contrary to what several have thought, whom in the earlier editions we followed, the propriety of the words seems to demand that we take the sanction as concerning a true precept, to whi… Read in context →

Tit. II, Ch. III, Art. 42, II. On Periodic Sheets, n. 120 — Stricter disposition of the other part 120. 1. By the other part of the present article more is required than the simple manifestation of counsel; ecclesiastical men must first obtain the permission of the Ordinaries bef… Read in context →

Tit. II, Chapter IV: On Typographers and Editors of Books, n. ¶1 — Argument of the chapter In this chapter, the discipline concerning the censure and edition of books is completed by certain precepts or warnings which, although they are not strictly proper to typographers and editors, n… Read in context →

Tit. II, Ch. IV, Article 43, nn. ¶1 & 121 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Tit. II, Ch. IV, Article 44, nn. ¶1 & 122 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Tit. II, Ch. IV, Article 45, nn. ¶1 & 123 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Tit. II, Ch. IV, Article 46, nn. ¶1 & 124 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Tit. II, Chapter V: On the Penalties Established Against Transgressors of the General Decrees, n. ¶1 — Argument of the chapter Besides the obligation of conscience, which regards the penitential forum and was weighed by us above in n. 53, 61, the General Decrees are fortified by canonical penalties which are promulgated i… Read in context →

Tit. II, Ch. V, Article 47, nn. ¶1 & 125 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Tit. II, Ch. V, Article 48, nn. ¶1 & 126 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Tit. II, Ch. V, Article 49, nn. ¶1 & 127 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Tit. II, Ch. V, Art. 49, Additamenta, n. ¶1 — 1. To n. 30. Concerning works which, every refutation omitted, set forth and report false dogmas, destructive of religion or morals, as the inventions and thoughts of others, Benedict XIV has words full of just severity … Read in context →