CENSORSHIP
522
CENSORSHIP
are mentioned in the so-called first class of the Index.
All their books, even those free from objection, i. e.
not treating of religious questions, as well as future
publications, are to be considered as forbidden. Sec-
aid, the rules contain conditional prohibitions, i. e.
books published by heretics, or even by Catholics,
that are in the main good and useful but not alto-
gether free from dangerous passages, are forbidden
until corrected by the lawful authorities. To these
writings belong chiefly those mentioned in the Index
itself as needing correction. Third, on certain con-
ditions, and after asking special permission, leave is
granted for the reading of Latin translations of the
Old Testament edited by heretics, and for the use of
Bible-versions in the vernacular written by Catholics.
Fourth, preventive censorship and approbation, as
prescribed by the Bull of Leo X (1515), are insisted
on. The punishment of excommunication is ex-
tended also to the author who has his book printed
without the necessary approbation. A copy of the
examined and approved manuscript is to remain with
the censor. Moreover, printers and booksellers are
forbidden both to offer for sale prohibited books and
to sell conditionally interdicted works to anyone not
producing a permit; they are ordered to keep ready
an exact list of all writings they have in stock. At
the same time bishops and inquisitors are urged to
supervise printing and book-shops and to have them
inspected. Finally, the rules inflict the punishment
of excommunication on such as read and possess for-
bidden heretical works, or those suspected of heresy.
Any person reading or keeping a book prohibited for
other reasons commits a grievous sin and is to be
punished according to the bishop's discretion. The
ten rules remained in force until Leo XIII abrogated
them by the Constitution "Ofliciorum ac Munerum"
(25 Jan., 1897) and replaced them by new general
decrees. In the course of time, however, the rules
not only received some few additions, especially when
a new index was published, but in consequence of
contrary custom also gradually lost their binding
force with regard to certain regulations.
The most important event regarding the adminis- tration of the censorship after the Council of Trent was the institution of a special congregation, the S. Congregatio Indicis Librorum Prohibitorum. (See Roman Congregations.) The first task of this body of cardinals was to be the promulgation of new- indexes as well as the expurgation of books needing correction. It also soon took in hand the examina- tion and prohibition of dangerous new writings, to- gether with the supervision and management of all that pertained to the production and distribution of books. The Congregation of the Index was called into existence by Pius V in March, 1571, formally and solemnly confirmed by the Bull of (iregory XIII, "I't pestiferarum" (13 Septembsr, 1572), and its rights eventually defined by Sixtus V in the Bull " tmmensa .-Eterni Patris" (22 Jan., 15SS). with those of the other congregations of cardinals. Sixtus V in- tended to replace, in his new index (printed 1590), the ten Tridentine rules by twenty-two new ones. This index, however, never passed into law; Sixtus died, and its publication was stopped by the succeeding popes. In the next Roman index the ten rules were reinstated instead of the twenty-two of Sixtus V. The new index, published at length by Clemen VIII
L596), contained, besides additions to the catalogue of forbidden books, not only the ten rules but, direct ly after them, an instruct ion on the prohibition, expurga- tion, and printing of books, some remarks on the fourth and ninth rules, and on several of the forbidden books. The instruction reminds bishops and in- quisitors both of their duties and rights regarding the prohibition of books. Outside Italy they, as well as tlie universities, are ordered to draw up and pro- mulgate indexes of forbidden books for their respect
ive districts, copies of wTiich are to be sent to Rome.
As regards expurgation of books, the instruction sets
forth in detail who is authorized for this purpose, how
it is to be practised in different cases, and what is to be
cancelled. After completing the corrections, bishop
and inquisitor are to publish a "Codex expurgato-
rius", according to which the books in question are
to be expurgated. Practically, neither of these first
two parts of the instruction was of much consequence.
Outside Italy, apart from Spain and Portugal, Poland
and Bohemia, particular indexes were almost un-
known. A short time after it was even forbidden to
do this without special leave of the Congregation of
the Index. As regards expurgation, it was only in
Rome itself, apart from Spain, Portugal, and Bel-
gium, that an "Index expurgatorius " (one volume)
was published in 1607, the author of which was the
then Magister Sarri Palatii. But this never became
legally binding. The third part of the instruction ex-
actly states the rules to be observed , ( 1 ) when examin-
ing a book previous to the printing. (2) when approv-
ing, and (3) when actually printing it. The whole is a
more detailed specification of the decree of the Lateran
Council as well as of the regulations laid down in the
tenth Tridentine rule. The observations appended to
the instruction refer chiefly, on the one hand, to the
permission of reading translations of the Bible; on
the other, to the prohibition of astrological works,
of the Talmud, and of other Jewish books.
In the early part of the seventeenth century both the Congregation of the Index and the Magister Sacri Palatii published in Rome, from time to time, decrees containing new prohibitions of books. These de- crees were collected in smaller indexes considered as additions to the index of Clement VIII, and in 1632 the then secretary of the Congregation of the Index edited (in his private capacity only) a complete alpha- betical list of all books forbidden up to that time. But it was not until 1664, under Alexander VII. that by order of the congregation a new official index was published which differed from all prior ones in form and arrangement of the subject-matter: as to the contents, the only difference was that all prohibitions from 1596 to 1664 were inserted. Tin- same is to be said of the abridged edition of the index of Alexander VII, which was published the following year (1665). In the introductory Brief, Speculators ", this pope decreed that in the prohibition of books none but the penalties fixed, both in the tenth rule and the Bull "In Ccena Domini ", should be in force. In the second half of the seventeenth century and the first of the eighteenth, many (chiefly Jansenistic) books were condemned by the Congregation of the Index, the Roman Inquisition, and papal Bulls or Briefs. The works interdicted by letters Apostolic were, as a rule, forbidden under pain of excommunication. During this time it was not unusual that in addition to single books whole classes of writings of a similar kind were forbidden, just as had been done formerly, particu- larly in letters Apostolic. Originally these classes of books were inserted in the alphabetical list mostly under the word libri, until the Index was reformed under Benedict XIV. This new index (1758) in surpasses all former ones by reason of the correction of the many typographical errors and inaccuracies to be found in the earlier indexes, so that it is in every sense the best edition published prior to 19011. It was also notable for the novel arrangement by which the aforesaid classes of works were now expressly registered, at the commencement of tin- catalogue of forbidden books, in four paragraphs headed: "De- crees Concerning Forbidden Books n ,,t Mentioned Individually in the Index". Among the works enumerated, we find especially books and writings on
certain dispute, 1 questions, such as the Immaculate Conception, the theory of grace, the Malabar and Chinese Kites.
