New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-12

gel, the case might OtlIdnu
1t is TO the bishops-that is to say. 10 inc
diocesan is connded the duty OF condemn
ing or Of APPROVING "A book being guided there
in by the laws and regulations OF the Conere-
ga ton Of the Index. If the work is approved
it receives what is known as the episcopal
or archepiscopal "imprimatur.' while in the
contrary case this token Of ecclesiastical APP
proval is withheld and the work in question Is
recommended for disciplinary action by the Con
eregation Of the Index at Rome. Occasional
IS the imprimatur of the diocesan is CONCEDED
to works subsequently condemned by the Con
ereeation f the Index This is due to the fact
that according to ecclesiastical usage and ell
duettc in the Catholic Church. a work that IS
written by a member Of religious order and
is approved Of by the superior or provincial
Of that order receives the imprmatur Of the
diocesan without any further question or eX-
animation 1t Is piece OF traditional courtesy
on the part Of the bishops and archbishops to
the heads Of the various religious orders, and
it is probably due to this fact that Father Ell
iott's Life OF Father IIccker." embodyinG the
doctrines Of the latter received the imprimatur
Of the Archbishop Of New-York
on the other hand. the Cardinal Archbishop
Of Paris refused TO give the impr.matur TO that
edition Of Able Mognan's book rs Father
IIcckcr a Saint although subsequently the
Abbc secured without any difficulty the i'm
primatur Of Monsignor Lcpidi Master OF the
Sacred Palace. for the edition Of the work that
printed at Rome Strictly speaking it is
the Pope who is the diocesan OF the Eternal
city. Since the institution of the Congregation
Of the Index it is his Master Of the Palace who
gives the imprimatur in his name in the case
Of books printed at Rome. and. owing to the
Importance Of the controversy dealt with by
the author Monsignor Lepidi careful to
ascertain the wishes Of the Pontiff before Civ
inc the imprimatur.
ONLY CERTAIN BOOKS CONDEMNED.
1t must thoroughly be understood that the ac-
tion Of the Congregation OF the Index is re
stricted nowadays exclusively to books. perodi-
Gals and newspapers that deal with religious
matters or that are characterized by immortality.
1t is true that in centuries gone by, when less
progressive and enlightened ideas prevailed.
numbers Of books not comprised in either Of
these categories were placed upon the Index
But when Leo Mi reorganized and mode rniZed
the Congregation some months ago he revised
the list of prescribed works and removed there
from all books that offended neither morals nor
religion
That such an institution as the Congregation
of the Index should be necessary is at first sight
incomprehensble to the people Of the United
States where both the standard of education
and above all. that OF propricty and decency
is SO immeasuraby higher than in Continental
Europe. Here in America books that offend
public decency are dealt with by the authorities
, with the full approval Of the people the laws
on the subject being so strict that even the
United states mails refuse to carry literature
that is in the least degree unsavory. and it was
only the other day that the American General
ia command at Havana consigned to the flames
d collection Of some sixty thousand undesirable
| books which he had conscatod in his cndeaYors
90 purify the atmosphere Of the place. In CON
Urcutal Europe a far greater degree Of license
prevails. 1t is mainly with the object of pro-
t,cting Catholic families from the evil effects
OF undesirable literature that the Congre cation
Of the Index remains in existence to-day. Here
in America every father and mother rightly con
sututos himself or herself the censor Of the
morals Of those members OF the hous hold who
have not attained the years Of discretion The
father cndcayors to direct the reading Of his
boys and t. prevent bad works calculated to
impair their morals from falling into their
hands and ia the same way the mother seeks
10 safeguard the innate sense of delicacy and
3 tine purity OF mind or her young daughters
What parents do for their children in ordinary
Dr.. the Catholic Church. which claims to stand
in the position Of parents to those who ale mcm-
bers thereof ondeayors to do for its followers
That is the principal object Of the cxis,cnca Of
the Congregation OF the Index I'm these modern
times
THE CONGREGATION As now CONSTITUTED
few words may bo added concerning its
history. Although the Catholic Church began
To SIT in judgment on books in early days. and
already in the hfth century We find Pope
Ge.aslus issuing decrees forb.dding the faithfm