The Censorship of the Church of Rome and Its Influence Upon the Production and Distribution of Literature; A Study of the History of the Prohibitory and Expurgatory Indexes, Together with Some Consideration of the Effects of Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1906 edition. Excerpt: ...ignorance, or a disregard of, the legitimate requirements of scholars in good standing within the Church, who had a just claim to consideration. 1 Historia Sui Temporis, xi, 363. - Cited by Reusch, i, 297. Huttinger, 9, 408. i Mtmoires de la R. Acad. de Hist., vii, 154. A repeated complaint on the part of the critics of the censorship operations under Paul IV was the ignorance and the heedlessness of the examiners who had in their hands the responsibility for passing upon the works of scholars. The books of the great leaders of thought were, it was charged, placed under the control of ignorance and mediocrity. The work of a learned commentator of St. Chrysostom or of the Psalmist was to be condemned by examiners who had no knowledge either of Greek or of Hebrew. Under such a system, it might still be possible for scholars to carry on their researches with a patience adequate for the production of compilations, but it was not possible to preserve for original thinkers the serenity of soul and the independence of spirit required for the production of really great works. CHAPTER VIII THE COUNCIL OF TRENT AND THE INDEX OF Pius iv, 1564. Rome, 1564. Pius IV, Council of Trent.--Index libro-rum prohibitorum cum regulis confectis per Patres a Tridentinae Synodo delectos, auctoritate Sanctis D. N. Pii IV Pont. Max., comprobatus. Romae, apud Paulum Manutium, Aldi F. 1564. This is the first Index which has behind it the authority of a general council. As early as April, 1546, in the fourth session, a papal decree entitled De editione et usu librorum sacrorum was received and accepted by the council. This presents the general grounds for the authority of the Vulgate, the principles that are to control the interpretation of the Scriptures, a prohibition...