For a Catholic who wants to understand the teachings Books or other writings dealing with of the Church, the place to start (and to constantly questions of religion or morals, if they are to Nihil Obstat and refer back to) is the Catechism of the Catholic be exhibited, sold, or distributed in churches Imprimatur Church. Pope John Paul II called the Catechism a or oratories (can. 827.4; cf. cans. 1214 and "sure norm for teaching the faith." Drawing from the 1223) Scriptures—along with decrees, constitutions, Reprints of collections of decrees or acts Issue: What are the nihil obstat and imprimatur? Do encyclicals, writings of the saints, and other writings issued by the local ecclesiastical authority they guarantee that a work will authentically present of the Church—the Catechism systematically (can. 828) the teachings of the Church? presents what Catholics believe. When reading any book about religion, it’s helpful to keep the Additionally, the diocesan bishop may request that Response: In the Catholic Church, certain types of Catechism nearby in order to look at the author’s certain types of writings be submitted for his review writings need a bishop’s authorization to be work alongside the teachings of the Church. (see Canon Law, can. 823.1). published for use in Catholic instruction. The nihil Another good set of resources is the sixteen Canon law provides that the writer or publisher must obstat and imprimatur indicate that a writing has documents of Vatican II. These documents address seek authorization from either the local ordinary of received that authorization. They signify that, in the topics including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred the author or the ordinary of the place where the judgment of the bishop who grants the imprimatur, Scriptures, the ministry and life of priests, the book is published (Can. 824.1). the work contains nothing contrary to faith and apostolate of lay people, social communications, and morals. However, the nihil obstat and imprimatur are ecumenism. 1 "Censor," Modern Catholic Dictionary, John A. Hardon, not an endorsement and do not guarantee that the The nihil obstat and imprimatur are guideposts to S.J. entire contents of a work are true. start Catholics on the path of good religious reading. 2 "Imprimi Potest," Modern Catholic Dictionary. See also A Catholic with knowledge of the faith grounded in Code of Canon Law, can. 832 Discussion: The bishop of a diocese participates in 3 The Code of Canon Law: A Text and Commentary, 580 the Catechism, Scriptures, and documents of Vatican reviewing certain types of written materials produced

II will then be equipped to evaluate and discern in his diocese. These materials include writings by which writings will best build his faith. 2000 Catholics United for the Faith, Inc. Catholics that concern faith and morals, are intended 827 N. Fourth St. for publication, and are intended for use in Catholic What writings need authorization? Steubenville, OH 43952 instruction (see "What Writings Need Only certain categories of writings must receive the (800) 693-2484 Authorization?" below). The nihil obstat and bishop’s authorization to publish. The Code of Canon www.cuf.org imprimatur show that a bishop has given Law specifies those categories: authorization for a work to be published Used with permission. Books of prayers for the public or private "Nihil obstat" literally means "Nothing obstructs." It use of the faithful (can. 826.3) The Evangelization Station is given by the censor librorum, a person who is Catechisms and other writings pertaining to Hudson, Florida USA "appointed by the bishop of a diocese to examine catechetical instruction, or their translations E-mail: [email protected] before publication those writings or other media of (can. 827.1) www.evangelizationstation.com communication that are subject to the Church’s Books that treat questions pertaining to supervision."1 Sacred Scripture, theology, canon law, ecclesiastical history, and religious or moral Pamphlet 224 "Imprimatur" means "Let it be printed." A work may disciplines, if they are to be used as texts be given the imprimatur by the local ordinary upon which instruction is based in parish (generally the diocesan bishop) after the censor has religious education programs or in Catholic given the nihil obstat. elementary, intermediate, or higher Some works might also have the imprimi potest education schools, including Catholic (from the Latin, "It can be printed"). The imprimi colleges, universities, and seminaries (can. potest is "permission that a religious receives from 827.2) his major superior to publish a manuscript on a religious subject. This implies approval of the writing by the superior and clearance to receive a bishop’s misleading. An example of this might be a book that receive an imprimatur, they do not receive an imprimatur."2 draws great attention to St. Thomas Aquinas’s theory endorsement that the theories are necessarily true. that a baby in utero does not receive its soul at Rather, the imprimatur signifies that, given the The nihil obstat and imprimatur are designed to conception. The author might present this as a half- censor’s understanding of the Church’s teaching as it ensure that those works that present the teachings of truth, letting the reader draw the false inference that stands today, the theories are not definitely false. the Church do so correctly. They indicate that the St. Thomas was indifferent to the evil of abortion. There may, on occasion, be a difference of opinion as bishop who has granted the imprimatur (or, as a Then again, the author might simply be conducting a to what Church teaching is on a given subject. This is practical matter, his censor on whom he must study of the history of Church teaching on abortion because magisterial documents consist of words that depend) sees nothing wrong with the work as it and calling too much attention to St. Thomas’s theory different people might interpret in different ways. concerns faith and morals. The bishop’s authorization (which the Church never officially embraced and Sometimes the issues can be over matters that are "is an essentially negative judgment of non- many rejected even in his own day). Supposing the very important. (An example of this would be the offensiveness."3 author did not make any false assertions but Church’s teaching on the inerrancy of Scripture. See presented information that might be taken the wrong our Faith Fact "Taking God at His Word: A Catholic The nihil obstat and imprimatur are not the way, should an imprimatur be granted? This is a Understanding of Biblical Inerrancy.") When there is equivalent of an endorsement or recommendation. matter of pastoral judgment; different bishops of even a shadow of a doubt as to what the Church They do not affirm that the whole of a work’s good will may come down on different sides of issues really teaches, many times censors and bishops will contents are true. Neither do the nihil obstat and like this. give the benefit of the doubt to the author, even if the imprimatur indicate that the censor or bishop author espouses a view which may in fact be necessarily agrees with the contents of a work. For An author might state Church teaching accurately, erroneous. example, a book on Catholic bioethics may have but then put forth opinions by other theologians that received the nihil obstat and imprimatur. Such a book call Church teaching into question. Often this will not Finally, a nihil obstat and imprimatur do not may discuss Church teachings, and it may also involve a direct attack on the doctrine of the Church. guarantee that a book is well written. They do not proffer opinions in matters where the Church has not Instead, it may involve presenting information that ensure that arguments are well presented, that yet spoken (e.g., when new technology raises new casts clouds of doubt and uncertainty over the explanations are complete, or that topics are fully ethical concerns). Those opinions may be deemed Church’s teaching, when in fact that teaching may covered. For example, a particular marriage book "free of doctrinal or moral error," but the bishop who well have been proposed clearly and definitively. may obtain authorization but never mention the granted the imprimatur may not agree with those Censors will sometimes recommend imprimaturs in Church’s teaching on contraception. Based on the opinions. these cases on the basis that the book overall might disregard of this teaching in our culture, this might be be in conformity with Church teachings, and considered a serious omission. Yet that book could We assume that our bishops act in good faith when therefore the book does more good than harm. have the nihil obstat and imprimatur. they grant permission for a book to be published. Most go to great lengths to insure that no imprimatur A publication may advance speculative theological This is not to suggest that Catholics should stay away is granted when one should not be. At the same time, opinions. One finds this particularly in fields such as from any writing that is not directly from the mouth there are several reasons why a Catholic would still Scripture study and ethics. For example, a book by a of the Church. The nihil obstat and imprimatur want to carefully evaluate a publication bearing the Catholic scripture scholar may have a fascinating provide for the bishop’s participation in reviewing nihil obstat and imprimatur: explanation of the theology of a particular passage of writings intended for public distribution to the Scripture. His interpretation may build upon God’s faithful, and most writings bearing an imprimatur A book may contain doctrinal or moral errors that the word, along with interpretations by Church Fathers, will indeed present the teachings of the Church in a censor(s) did not notice. This is unlikely but possible. Doctors of the Church, and so forth. The book may faithful manner. On account of the censor’s review, Just as a math teacher grading a large number of be wholly consistent with Church teachings. But not many works undergo changes to ensure that the work exams may miss marking a wrong answer on a every Catholic has to agree with the opinions offered accurately reflects the teachings of the Church. If student’s exam, a censor may miss an error in the therein, including the bishop who grants the further review shows that a work is not in conformity work he is reviewing. In neither case does the imprimatur. Other Catholics are free to come to with faith and morals, the imprimatur can be "grader’s" oversight make the error correct. different conclusions through their own careful study, withdrawn. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the provided they adhere to the guidelines the Faith, for instance, has ordered the imprimatur to be A book may present material that is technically Magisterium has issued concerning the Scriptures. withdrawn from certain publications. accurate while being somewhat or even highly When works that advance more speculative positions