The Irish standard., 1915-09-11
BOOKS ON THE INDEX

hidden Books?
1t is publication, officially issued
in Rome. which tells us what books 8
Catholic is forbidden by his Church
to read. 1t is called Index" because
the greater part Of it consists of the
catalogue or index of books prohibit
ed by special DEGREES.
2. How do we know that the
Church has the power of forbiddine
books1
We know this from the words O
Christ, by which He gave the faithful
ito observe whatsoever l have com
manded you" This can only near
that the Church was to tell US more
in detail how to fulfill certain duties
towards God or our neighbor or our
selves. Thus by enjoining on US thu
duty of fasting and abstinence, the
Church tells us in detail how to fulfil
the general duty Of penance and NOR
LITIGATION. In similar way, by giving
laws to regulate our reading the
Church teaches" us more in detail
how to observe a natural duty ex
pressed in the fifth commandment moi
to endanger our souls.
Christ spoke to st. Peter: Feed My
lambs. feed My sheep But mar
would be bad shepherd If he die
not try to keep his flock from danger
GUS places and unhealthy food. By
giving us some directions for the
choice of our reading, the successor
of st. Peter carries out a part of this
pastoral duty. His voice is the voice
of the Good Shepherd.
He could not act otherwise. Would
e. g., a father suffer his children tt
read or keep any letter or newspape,
in which SO much as suspicion were
cast upon his own.or his wife's honor:
And would not good children throw
away with horror every such paper;
How great are the precautions taken
by civil authorities in case of an cpl
demic! No matter how vigorously
they are enforced, we find them reas
enable. We should even severely cen
sure our executive, or legislative off
GERS, If they neglected such steps. But
what is the loss OF any number O
mortal lives in COMPARISON with tn,
irreparable loss of immortal souls?
3. Who are bound to observe thes,
laws of the Church?
All those over whom the Church
has the power to bind and to loose
/. e., all Christians, the learned ant
the unlearned, the priests as we'll al
the laity, old and young, unless the!
obtain dispensation. Even those neet
a permission, who may REASONABLE!
presume that the book will not harm
them. This permission can be givel
only by the Bishop, his Vicar Genera
and those who have received powe
from him. Confessors, unless the.
have special faculties, cannot gran
it. If, however, a forbidden book o
number of q periodical needs speed.
or perhaps instantaneous refutation
those able to give it may procee,
without waiting for the permission
but they may not peruse the publica
ton longer than is reasonably re
quired.
4. If there were no laws of tn
Church prohibiting certain books
should we be allowed to read an.
book, whatsoever it's character nigh
be?
In that case we should, of course
not commit a sin of disobedienc'
against the Church. There! would re
main, however, the natural law for
bidding us to expose our soul = b!
reading or otherwise-to the danger
of eternal damnation. This duty wa.
not imposed by the Church and can
not be taken away by her. It remains
In full force, even liza person has OBJ
tanned a dispensation from the Law
Of the Church, nay If there were M
Index at all.
1t was the consciousness Of this dut,
that prompted the learned Bishop st
Francis de Sales to give thanks t.
God in terms of deepest humility fol
having been preserved from spiritua
harm while perusing some heretica
books, though he had obtained the
permission to read and keep them.
s. Are we allowed to read all books
and writings which are not prohibited
by the Church?
The Church prohibits only such
books as seem to call for special mea
sures. But other books and publica'
tons may. for particular reasons. be
just as dangerous or more dangerous
than those that come under the prohi'
bition of the Church. We are bound
IN. conscience to shun such books also.
We are always obliged, before reading
any book, to ascertain In some way or
other that it will not be- harmful to
US.
We should be able to control GER
tain childish curiosity. There are
thousands Of good Catholic books and
other publications, the reading Of
which will yield US decent recreation
and MI our mind MIR 1lf,,l knoNl.