Index of Prohibited Books (1667) - Page 7

Dæmonomania On the Demon-Mania of Witches is entirely prohibited, but the book On the Republic and the Method for the Easy Comprehension of History are prohibited only until they have been expurgated by the author and have appeared with the approval of the Master of the Sacred Palace. This is believed to have happened perhaps by an error of the bookseller; for the book On the Republic by the same Jean Bodin was simply condemned by our same Most Holy Lord the Pope on October 15, 1592, and then the book of Dæmonomania on September 1, 1594, and therefore both must be considered condemned and prohibited.

INSTRUCTION

Added to the Rules of the Index by the authority of the same Clement VIII.

For those who are to devote diligent and faithful (as is fitting) effort to books to be prohibited, expurgated, and printed.

For the preservation of the Catholic Faith, it is not enough to know which of the already published books have been condemned (which was primarily sanctioned in the Index and Rules drawn up by the Fathers selected by the general Council of Trent), unless care is also taken that either these same books do not sprout up again or similar others do not emerge and propagate, which, infecting the incautious minds of the faithful with hidden poison, would be judged worthy of just and deserved condemnation.

Therefore, so that all books published hereafter, whether old or new, may exist as pure as possible and uncontaminated in matters pertaining to both faith and morals, it is diligently sanctioned in the chapters below what the public utility requires regarding the interdiction of bad books, to abolish them completely, both by Bishops and Inquisitors and by others whose study and authority can be of value for this purpose in the Church of God (beyond those things decreed in the aforementioned Rules of the Tridentine Fathers); and it is established what must be inviolably observed in the future, both by the same Bishops and Inquisitors and others as aforesaid in the interdiction and abolition of bad books, by Correctors in the correction and emendation of books and all other writings whatsoever, and by Printers in the printing of the same books (with a penalty established at the discretion of the Bishop and Inquisitor against the same Printers).

ON THE PROHIBITION OF BOOKS.

§. i.

Bishops and Inquisitors shall take care that, immediately after this Index has been published, those subject to their jurisdiction shall bring to them the names, listed one by one, of all and every book that each finds to be prohibited among them in the same Index.

Regarding the notification of such books, all persons, of whatever rank and condition they may be, shall be held to do so within a certain time to be prescribed by the Bishop or Inquisitor, under a grave penalty to be inflicted at their discretion.

In Rome, the Master of the Sacred Palace will take care that all these things are performed with certainty through edicts proposed by him, prescribing the time.

§. ii.

If there are any who, for some certain reason, desire the power to retain or read one or more of the prohibited books, which can be permitted according to the prescription of the Rules, before their expurgation: the right to grant such a faculty outside the City shall rest with the Bishop or Inquisitor; in Rome, with the Master of the Sacred Palace.

They shall grant this freely and in writing, signed by their own hand, to be renewed every three years, with the consideration primarily applied that they shall not bestow such a license except to men who are worthy and conspicuous for piety and doctrine, and with selection; and primarily to those whose studies they have found to be of use to the public utility and the holy Catholic Church.

Those who, while reading, find anything worthy of note, with the chapters and pages marked, shall be bound to notify the Bishop or Inquisitor.

§. iii.

The necessity of preserving the Catholic faith, especially outside Italy, demands from Bishops and Inquisitors, as well as from public Universities flourishing in every praise of doctrine, that they take care to compile and publish an index of those books that roam through their Kingdoms and Provinces, infected with heretical stain and contrary to good morals, whether they are written in their own nation's language or a foreign one.

And they shall restrain the men of the same Kingdoms and Provinces from reading or retaining them, under certain penalties proposed by the same Bishops and Inquisitors.

To execute this, the Nuncios and Legates of the Apostolic See outside Italy must diligently urge the same Bishops, Inquisitors, and Universities.

§. iv.

The same Apostolic Nuncios or Legates outside Italy, as well as Bishops and Inquisitors in Italy, shall undertake the care to transmit every year to the Holy Apostolic See, or to the Congregation of the Index deputed by it, a diligently collected catalog of books printed in their parts that are either prohibited or in need of expurgation.

§. v.

Bishops and Inquisitors, or those subdelegated and deputed by them, both in Italy and outside, shall keep with them the indices of individual nations, so that, having knowledge of the books that have been condemned and prohibited among them, they may more easily provide whether they should also restrain or retain those same books recognized in the lands of their jurisdiction.