Censorship and the Vatican
Censorship within the Vatican reflects the Roman Catholic Church's efforts to maintain doctrinal purity and moral teachings. As the central governing body of the Catholic Church, the Vatican wields significant authority over what print and nonprint materials are deemed acceptable, addressing sensitive issues such as contraception, divorce, and priest celibacy. The enforcement of censorship is rooted in Canon Law, a comprehensive legal framework developed since the twelfth century, which emphasizes the Church's role as the sole interpreter of the Bible and safeguards its traditions.
Historically, the Index Librorum Prohibitorum, established during the Council of Trent in the 16th century, served as the official list of banned books, reinforcing the Church's stance against materials that contradicted Catholic doctrine. Although the Index ceased publication in 1966, the Church continues to regulate content across various media, including literature and film, to ensure adherence to its teachings. This regulation is seen within the context of the Catholic belief in the importance of a rational moral law, which is believed to be divinely ordained for the benefit of society. Censorship within the Vatican thus represents a complex interplay between the Church's commitment to freedom of inquiry and its responsibility to protect its spiritual heritage.
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Censorship and the Vatican
- DESCRIPTION: The center of the worldwide Roman Catholic church, the Vatican is an independent nation although it physically is only a tiny enclave within Rome, Italy
- SIGNIFICANCE: As the official headquarters of Roman Catholicism, the Vatican makes the ultimate decisions concerning church censorship of print and nonprint materials, as well as issues of contraception, divorce, and priest celibacy
The headquarters of the Roman Catholic church is an independent state located within the city of Rome. Saint Peter’s Basilica is the principal church of the Roman Catholic world. The city’s civil administration is overseen by the Papal Commission for Vatican City. Canonic law is enacted by ecclesiastic authority to regulate church discipline. Vatican City and the Holy See are distinct entities; however, they are united in the person of the pope, who is a head of state and is considered to be an infallible leader by Roman Catholics.
During the Middle Ages, the Church established Canon Law and papal control over Western Christian nations. In the early sixteenth century, Martin Luther led the Protestant Reformation against papal authority, the sacrificial nature of the mass, and the cult of the Virgin Mary. The Council of Trent (1545-1563) convened as a Counter-Reformation measure, and the council instituted the Index Librorum Prohibitorum, the official Vatican list of banned books, in 1559. While the council took steps to address abuses in the Church, it refused concessions to the Protestants and codified Catholic dogma. Tradition and Scripture were declared sources of spiritual knowledge with the Church as the sole interpreter of the Bible. Priest celibacy was maintained.
Vatican Council I (1869-1870) affirmed papal infallibility and reacted against modernism. In the 1920s, concordatas (agreements) with several nations, especially in Latin America, ensured Catholic spiritual authority in these countries. Issues addressed by Vatican II (1962-1965) included the church in the modern world, the ministry and life of priests, the role of the laity, Christian education, and religious freedom. The Index ceased publication in 1966.
Catholic doctrine is based on the New Testament; the pope and bishops develop guidelines on doctrinal issues, as well as social justice and human rights. Censorship concerns involve print and nonprint materials, contraception, divorce, and priest celibacy. Some of these issues are decreed in Canon Law and implemented by Vatican councils.
Canon Law
Canon Law is the body of legislation (canons) that regulates the Roman Catholic church. In the twelfth century, a Benedictine monk, Gratian, compiled the first systematic collection of canon law, based on papal decrees and the proclamation of synods. The Council of Trent laid the canonical foundation for church reform and codification, and further revision of church laws was put into effect in 1918. Pope John XXIII (1958-1963) initiated the modernization of the Code of Canon Law. Pope Paul VI (1963-1978) continued the task in consultation with world experts in social science and theology. A new draft of the code was completed in 1978.
Censorship Issues
According to Canonic law, the Church has the right to censor by virtue of natural law and supernatural mission. The Catholic viewpoint is that the law is to be loved because it is rational and its origin is from God, and thus, it is the right and duty of the Church and society to exercise coercion for the good of the people. Freedom, in the Catholic view, is the freedom to act as one ought to, according to the reasonableness of the law.
Catholicism’s concern for a balance between freedom of inquiry and purity of doctrine is documented in the Index Librorum Prohibitorum ("Index of Forbidden Books"). The Council of Trent codified church regulations on book censorship and the first official Index was published in 1559. After Vatican I, a revised Index (of ten rules) was officially published in 1900. In 1948, the last edition of Index Librorum Prohibitorum was issued. After Vatican II, the Index was declared primarily a historical document, with the new regulations emphasizing the positive value of books. Bishops are responsible for cooperating with authors and publishers to ensure that the church remains the custodian of divine revelation and the interpreter of the teachings of Christ. The Catholic view of censorship also applies to other materials, such as films and television. Prior to Vatican II, community priests used to edit or expurgate objectionable portions of films, such as Bitter Rice (1953), before public viewing. Canon 1385, for example, addresses censura praevia ("prior censorship"); Catholic authors (clerics or lay) may not publish materials dealing with issues of faith and morals without permission from the diocesan bishop. An example of church censorship involved Italian astronomer, engineer, and physicist Galileo Galilei, who was tried by the Inquisition on suspicion of heresy because his scientific views were disputed by the Church. Galileo’s Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (1632) was banned, and printers were forbidden to publish anything by him.
Although the Church has reserved the right to censor materials that are deliberately against Catholic theology, dogma, and moral teachings, canon 19 states that “laws which decree a penalty, or restrict the free exercise of one’s rights . . . are subject to strict interpretation.” This means that laws are not to be extended to other cases but must be interpreted according to the meaning of the words. The Church has legislative, executive, and judicial authority as the divinely appointed carrier of Jesus Christ’s revelation and of Christian morals.
Bibliography
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McBrien, Richard P. Catholicism. Winston Press, 1980.
McDermott, Jim. "The Catholic Church Has Been Banning Books for Centuries. Here’s What It Can Teach Us about Censorship Today." America Magazine, 19 Sept. 2022, www.americamagazine.org/faith/2022/09/19/censorship-catholic-history-libraries-243809. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
McKenzie, John L. The Roman Catholic Church. Image Books, 1971.
Nelson, Claud D. The Vatican Council and All Christians. Association Press, 1962.
Vose, Robin J. E. The Index of Prohibited Books: Four Centuries of Struggle over Word and Image for the Greater Glory of God. Reaktion Books, 2022.
Weigel, George. To Sanctify the World: The Vital Legacy of Vatican II. Basic Books, 2022.