CENSORSHIP
525
CENSORSHIP
condemned nor put on the Index. There happen,
however, at all times and in all nations eases in which
the writings of celebrated scholars, even of distin-
guished Catholic theologians, contain erroneous doc-
trines. The better the author is known as an ortho-
dox Catholic, the greater his reputation as a writer,
(he more easily will his work influence and mislead
the unsuspecting. In these and similar eases, though
the savant may have acted in good faith and written
his hook in the best of intentions, the Church as a
Divinely appointed guardian must protect the im-
perilled faithful. If such a book is circulated and read
only in small districts, it may he sufficient that the
competent bishop, after careful examination, forbid it
for his diocese. If, however, the work in question con-
stitun s a danger to the faithful of a whole country, it
must as soon as possible be denounced to the Apos-
tolic See, above all by the bishops concerned, in order
that the book may lie examined in Home and for-
bidden, if necessary, to all Catholics. This is a sacred
obvious duty of all bishops: nevertheless, the eccle-
siastical law specially reminds them of it by paragraph
29. In the different countries and dioceses the bish-
ops are the appointed guardians of faith and morals.
Hence, the highest ecclesiastical authorities in Rome
do not, as a rule, take any steps until a book has been
denounced to them. It is for this reason that the law
contains three paragraphs, 27 to 29, on the obligation
of giving information about bad books. The tenor of
paragraph 29 has been stated above; the two others
read as follows: — ■
Although it is the concern of all Catholics and particularly of the educated to give notice of pernicious books to the bishops or the Apostolic See, still it is above all the official duty of the nuncios, the Apostolic delegates, the ordinaries (bishops) and the rectors of universities of high scientific repute.
It is desirable thai anyone giving information against bad books should mention not only the title of the book, but also, as far as possible, the reason why he thinks the book deserving of con- demnation. Those, however, to whom informa- tion is given, have the sacred duty to keep pri- vate the names of informers.
From these plain regulations it will be readily seen that the much abused so-called "denunciation" has nothing odious about it at all; that, on the contrary, just as in the case of a public prosecutor, it is part and parcel of the most indispensable official duties, e. g. of a bishop.
So far the Constitution of Leo XIII with regard to the prohibition of books. In addition, however, it
contains exact regulations concerning preliminary ex- amination, the so-called "preventive censorship", (tf this, the censorship <>i books in the proper sense, the aecond title .,t the I '.nil "< ifficiorum ac Munerum"
treats in live chapters. I'rom the notion and scope
orship it is evident that it appertains exclu- sively to the pope and the bishops, not, however, to
any commitb f scholars nor to any university.
The pope, of course, has the right of censorship for the entire Church. In the general decrees here spoken of, he has (by paragraphs 7 and 30) reserved to himself the examination and approbation of all vernacular •■.htjon-, of Holy Scripture, if they are to ir without annotations. From paragraph 18 it
is apparent that in like manner authentic editions of
the .Missal, Breviary, Ritual Cseremoniale Episco- porum, Pontificate Romanum, and other liturgical books (to which also belong works on liturgical chant ) require the approbation of the Apostolic See (see above). A book forbidden for the entire ( Ihurch may not, as a rule, be reprinted. If, however, in a par- ticular case tin-. I"- nen gsary or desirable, it is to be done only with permission of, and on the conditions
laid down by, the Congregation of the Index (para-
graph 31). The same holds good also for any work
forbidden not absolutely but with the clause donee
corrigatur (i. e. until it be corrected). Paragraph 32
prescribes that writings on matters appertaining to
a still pending process of beatification or canonization
require the approbation of the Congregation of Rites.
Generally speaking, collections of decrees of the
Roman Congregations may be published only with
the express permission of the congregation concerned
(paragraph 33). For censorship and approbation of
grants of indulgences see Indulgences. Since Apos-
tolic vicars and missionaries are immediately under
the Congregation of Propaganda, they must, ac-
cording to paragraph 34, observe the regulations of
the said congregation regarding censorship of books.
Apart from the particular cases mentioned above, in
which censorship is reserved to the pope or to one of
the Roman Congregations, it appertains in general to
the bishop of the place in which a book appears (para-
graph 35). This does not imply, however, that the
said bishop may not simply agree to the censorship
of another ordinary, v. g. the bishop of the author.
Paragraph 30 warns the rcijulttrcs, i. e, members of
religious orders with solemn vows, that beyond an
episcopal imprimatur they shall also require, accord-
ing to the regulation of the Council of Trent — at least
for books de rebiis sacris — the approbation of their
own superior. Finally, paragraph 37 states that a
writer living in Koine, even if he wish to bring out his
work elsewhere, need not have any other approbation
than that of the cardinal-vicar and the Magister
Sacri Palatii A postal ici.
After this first chapter (paragraplis 30 to 37) the second instructs bishops (paragraph 38) to appoint as censors none but conscientious and capable men. The next paragraph (39) recommends to the censors themselves, warmly and above all, the exercise of im- partial justice. When examining books, they must have before their eyes solely the dogmas of Holy Church and the universal Catholic doctrine as con- tained in the decrees of oecumenical councils, the con- stitutions of the Roman pontiffs, and the unanimous teaching of theologians. The last paragraph (40) prescribes that the bishop, if after finishing the ex- amination nothing is to be said against the publica- tion of the book, should grant the author the required permission in writing and free of charge. The im- primatur is to be printed at the beginning or end of the book. Pius X in the Encyclical " Pascendi Dominici Gregis" of 8 September, 1907 (Acta S. Sedis, XL, 045), expressly orders all bishops to ap- point as censors qualified theologians, to whom the censorship of books appertains ex officio, hike ap- pointments are to be made also at Koine. The official censor is to present to the bishop a written verdict on every book he has examined. In case t he decision is favourable to the book, the bishop will give the approbation using the formula Imprimatur, which is t<> be preceded h\ \ hi I ah tut, toget her with the name of the censor. If after the cxaniin.it ion the bishop refuses approbation, but thinks the book capable of improvement , he must make known to the aul hor the points to b t Ted ed.
In the third chapter paragraph 41 mentions more exactly which books arc to be submitted for previous censorship. " Ml the faithful must submit for pre- vious censorship at least those books that deal \sith Holy Scripture, theology, church history, canon law. natural theology, ethics on es ol religion
or morals, and in general, all writings having special reference to religion and morality." To this class be- long also the more important journals treating of religious or theological matters, as far as they are equivalent to books, not, however, writings of lesser
extent, booklets or papers discussing similar topics. Publications of this sort need only be submitted for
