The Ten Rules on Prohibited Books, created by the Fathers of the Council of Trent and approved by Pope Pius, was a decree that directed those of the Catholic faith in which books they were and were not allowed to read and own. The Council’s decree was first published in December of 1563. It was not only during the Council of Trent’s tenure that these ten rules were in place. These ten rules were expanded and modified over the course of four hundred and three years until the use and discontinuation of the Index librorum prohibitorum in 1966. The rules range from enforcing prior decrees to requiring permission from bishops and inquisitors prior to publication. The basis for the banning of some books overflows from the first Roman index, was issued in 1559 by Pope Paul IV and would be later adopted and revised by the Council of Trent. Does the church still ban books?
Over the course of four centuries, more than four thousand works were banned because they were “damaging to the faith or morals of Catholics.” Does the Church still ban books?
Reformation did not only apply to the Protestant faith, but also to the Catholic faith as well. It is imperative to understand that calls for reformation did not all take place on October 31st, of 1517. The term “Reformation” stems from the Latin word, “reformatio,” meaning to reform. In the instance of The Ten Rules on Prohibited Books, the Catholic Church is a single, universal Church established by Christ and his twelve apostles.
Historically speaking, all people in the sixteenth century identified themselves as Catholic. Initially, the Reformation began as a crusade to reform the Church. The term Protestant did not appear until the late 1520’s as a way of attacking the theologians who protested. However, by the 1540’s the slur stuck and those who disagreed and advocated for reform adopted the name and became Protestants. Three important reformation Protestants were; Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Ulrich Zwingli. Church leadership did not make an effort to address the Reformation until the Council of Trent, which lasted from 1545 to 1563. During the eighteen-year tenure of the Council, several decrees were drawn up by the Fathers appointed by the Council and sent to Pope Pius for his approval. Cf. Sess. XXV, decree concerning the index of books.
“The original purpose of the Index of banned books was to protect the faith and morals of Catholics and offer assistance to ordinary Christians in determining what was detrimental.” Does the Church still ban books?
The first rule confirmed and mandated that all books that were condemned by popes or other councils prior to 1515 would remain on the prohibited books list. Rule I states, “All books which have been condemned either by the supreme pontiffs or by ecumenical councils before the year 1515 and are not contained in this list, shall be considered condemned in the same manner as they were formerly condemned.” Ten Rules on Prohibited Books.
The banned books came from authors who were deemed as heretics, who were consequently Protestants as well. Among these heretical authors are Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli, yet they are not the only individuals denounced as heretics. According to Rule II, “The books of these heresiarchs who after the aforesaid year (1515) originated or revived heresies, as well as those written by be heads or prior heads of heretics (Luther, Calvin, Zwingli) whatever their name, title, or heresy, which deal professedly with religion are absolutely forbidden.” Ten Rules on Prohibited Books.
However, if writings did not deal with religion and were approved by Catholic theologians by order of the bishops, are permitted. Even Catholic books which had been written by those who “fell” into heresy after the book’s publication, may be permitted after their writers had returned to the Church if they gained approval by the theological faculty of a Catholic university. It was not only reformers such as Luther that had books banned and required approval. It is made clear by the first two rules that any heretical books or books written by those deemed as heretics will not be allowed unless it is approved. Rule III states “The translations of writers, also ecclesiastical, which have till now been edited by condemned authors, are permitted provided they contain nothing contrary to sound doctrine.” At times, the Rules are harsh and blunt, but in other instances, they are more forgiving. Rule IV is by far one of the most lenient rules of all.
Rule IV is more of a reaffirmation that the Sacred Books are permitted everywhere without discrimination and will lead to an increase in faith and piety. However, Rule IV later states that “Bookdealers who sell or in any other way supply Bibles written in the vernacular to anyone who has not this permission, shall lose the price of the books, which is to be applied by the bishop to pious purposes, and in keeping with the nature of the crime they shall be subject to other penalties which are left to the judgment of the same bishop. Regulars who have not the permission of their superiors may not read or purchase them.” Ten Rules on Prohibited Books
Rule V is also a simple rule allowing books that occasionally produce works of heretics are allowed as long as recommended eliminations and additions by the Bishop, inquisitor, and Catholic theologians are made. When reading the Rules the sternness goes from a reminder to absolute outlaw, to flexibility, and back to a reminder. Rules VII-IX give detailed instances of what is explicitly banned. All books and writings concerning geomancy, hydromancy, aeromancy, pyromancy, oneiromancy, chiromancy, necromancy, or with sortilege, mixing of poisons, augury, auspices, sorcery, magic arts, are absolutely banned. Ten Rules on Prohibited Books
It is the responsibility of the Bishops to ensure that all writings containing these things and references to destiny by astrology and future telling are not to be read or possessed.
However, natural observations and opinions written in the interest of navigation, agriculture, and medical are allowed. Finally, in Rule X it was decreed that the printing of books and other writings was to be closely observed in the tenth session of the Lateran Council under Leo X. Fifth Lateran, Hardouin, IX, pp. 1775-77; Schroeder, Disciplinary Decrees of the General Councils, pp. 504, 644 f.
The closing words of the decree concerning Ten Rules on Prohibited Books, leave a stern warning that anyone possessing or reading any banned books or materials will be excommunicated from the church. Ten Rules on Prohibited Books
Although the Rules were officially discontinued in 1966, The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith still reserved the right to ban books as it deems fit. The Church had many reasons for banning the works that were on the index. This decree was only one of many catalysts for change in the European religious landscape that resulted from the Reformation. At times, the Council of Trent can seem overly harsh, and at others, quite lenient in their convictions.
Bibliography
Halsall, Paul. 1999. “Modern History Sourcebook: Council of Trent: Rules on Prohibited Books.” Modern History Sourcebooks. January. Accessed March 13, 2018. https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/trent-booksrules.asp.
Jackson J, Spielvogel. 2018. Western Civilization, Volume B:1300-1815. Boston: Cengage.
Schlumpf, Heidi. 2010. Does the church still ban books? September 17. Accessed March 15, 2018. http://www.uscatholic.org/church/2010/08/does-church-still-ban-books.