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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
imprimaturs	claire	Saturday, December 20, 2008
Question: Hello Br Ignatius, I would like to clarify, if you permit, on the meaning of imprimatur since many people don't understand what this means. Years ago I learned from an outstanding book: Why Do Catholics Do That - A Guide to the Teachings and Practices of the Catholic Church with Imprimatur of the Most Reverend Charles Grahmann, D.D., Bishop of Dallas, by Kevin Orlin Johnson, Ph.D. (and Nihil Obstat by Rev. Robert A Coerver) that books or other written articles that have the Nihil Obstat and/or Imprimatur, to Quote: "are official declarations that a book or pamphlet is free from doctrinal error, but the officials who review it and permit publication may still disagree with its contents. This qualification means that even books of speculative theoloogy can be published, but it also means that approved books can contradict each other flatly, on matters other than faith and morals. On matters outside the deposit of faith, there's always room for opinion and debate." Nihil Obstat is the Latin for "nothing obstructs [publication]" which is the official certification given by the diocese's Censor Librorum ("Reviewer of Book") that means he's found no statement contrary to the Church's teachings. After review, the manuscript goes to the competent eccleiastical authority, usually the local Bishop, for permission to be printed. If he approves, the book gets an additional notation: Imprimatur, which means "Let it be printed". Br Ignatius, you meantioned the book Medical Ethics: Sources of Catholic Teachings, by Kevin D. O'Rourke and Philip Boyle, has an imprimatur from the Archdiocese of St. Louis, and I was wondering if this book also has the Nihil Obstat? I was also wondering if a book such as the above which seems to promote the use of contraceptives in cases of rape, which other world renowned theologians disagree with, if the Pope ever made an official statement and said clearly that no contraceptives could ever be used for any reason, what becomes of books that would then differ with the Pope's statements? They would be circulating thus promoting contradictory teachings that are then not in line with the Pope's declarations, and what happens then to people who may not be as diligent in researching and consequently may use EC's in cases of rape? Thank you and God Bless, claire
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Claire: The imprimatur from the bishop is the certification that a book is free from doctrinal error. The Censor Librorum is a person appointed by the bishop to assist him in evaluating a book. It is the bishop who has the ultimate authority in these matters, not the Censor Librorum. Ideally, the Nihil Obstat will be printed in the book, but it is not necessary. The Imprimatur presumes the Nihil Obstat as an imprimatur is not given unless the work as been judged as free from doctrinal error. The ethics book has an imprimatur printed on the copyright page. I did not see a Nihil Obstat statement, but, as mentioned, that is not required, and is presumed with the Imprimatur. One can always check with the Bishop who gave the Imprimatur to be sure that it is legit. In this case, the bishop was Michael Sheridan who is now the Bishop of Colorado Springs. As you have quoted, an imprimatur does not mean that the bishop who grants it agrees with the authors. The imprimatur only means that the book is free from doctrinal error. There has been no official Vatican statement that I am aware that deals with this particular issue, thus it is up for debate. But, either way a person falls in the debate we must acknowledge that both positions do not violate doctrine. It is possible that the Vatican will make a ruling someday. If that happens then whatever ruling that will be will end the debate. For now the debate continues. As for who researches this, the primary person responsible to educate the people about this is the bishop, and his priests. Catholic hospitals and doctors have a responsibility to know the Church's position on this. God knows the hearts of each of us. He will justly and merciful judge any woman who accepts any procedure that causes an abortion. Mortal sin cannot be stumbled upon. A person who commits a mortal sin is one who knows that their sin is wrong, but still deliberately commits the sin anyway. This means that mortal sins are "premeditated" by the sinner and thus are truly a rejection of God’s law and love. If one does not know what they are doing is grave then that lack of knowledge may reduce the culpability for the sin and thus make the grave sin not mortal. One must also have the unimpaired volition to freely choose the sin. Psychological duress, fear, emotion instability, shock, etc. are all conditions that may reduce the culpability for sin and this make the grave sin not mortal. Only God can make these determinations. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

imprimaturs

claire

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Question:

Hello Br Ignatius,

I would like to clarify, if you permit, on the meaning of imprimatur since many people don't understand what this means. Years ago I learned from an outstanding book: Why Do Catholics Do That - A Guide to the Teachings and Practices of the Catholic Church with Imprimatur of the Most Reverend Charles Grahmann, D.D., Bishop of Dallas, by Kevin Orlin Johnson, Ph.D. (and Nihil Obstat by Rev. Robert A Coerver) that books or other written articles that have the Nihil Obstat and/or Imprimatur, to Quote:

"are official declarations that a book or pamphlet is free from doctrinal error, but the officials who review it and permit publication may still disagree with its contents. This qualification means that even books of speculative theoloogy can be published, but it also means that approved books can contradict each other flatly, on matters other than faith and morals. On matters outside the deposit of faith, there's always room for opinion and debate."

Nihil Obstat is the Latin for "nothing obstructs [publication]" which is the official certification given by the diocese's Censor Librorum ("Reviewer of Book") that means he's found no statement contrary to the Church's teachings. After review, the manuscript goes to the competent eccleiastical authority, usually the local Bishop, for permission to be printed. If he approves, the book gets an additional notation: Imprimatur, which means "Let it be printed".

Br Ignatius, you meantioned the book Medical Ethics: Sources of Catholic Teachings, by Kevin D. O'Rourke and Philip Boyle, has an imprimatur from the Archdiocese of St. Louis, and I was wondering if this book also has the Nihil Obstat?

I was also wondering if a book such as the above which seems to promote the use of contraceptives in cases of rape, which other world renowned theologians disagree with, if the Pope ever made an official statement and said clearly that no contraceptives could ever be used for any reason, what becomes of books that would then differ with the Pope's statements? They would be circulating thus promoting contradictory teachings that are then not in line with the Pope's declarations, and what happens then to people who may not be as diligent in researching and consequently may use EC's in cases of rape?

Thank you and God Bless,
claire

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Claire:

The imprimatur from the bishop is the certification that a book is free from doctrinal error. The Censor Librorum is a person appointed by the bishop to assist him in evaluating a book. It is the bishop who has the ultimate authority in these matters, not the Censor Librorum.

Ideally, the Nihil Obstat will be printed in the book, but it is not necessary. The Imprimatur presumes the Nihil Obstat as an imprimatur is not given unless the work as been judged as free from doctrinal error.

The ethics book has an imprimatur printed on the copyright page. I did not see a Nihil Obstat statement, but, as mentioned, that is not required, and is presumed with the Imprimatur.

One can always check with the Bishop who gave the Imprimatur to be sure that it is legit. In this case, the bishop was Michael Sheridan who is now the Bishop of Colorado Springs.

As you have quoted, an imprimatur does not mean that the bishop who grants it agrees with the authors. The imprimatur only means that the book is free from doctrinal error.

There has been no official Vatican statement that I am aware that deals with this particular issue, thus it is up for debate. But, either way a person falls in the debate we must acknowledge that both positions do not violate doctrine.

It is possible that the Vatican will make a ruling someday. If that happens then whatever ruling that will be will end the debate. For now the debate continues.

As for who researches this, the primary person responsible to educate the people about this is the bishop, and his priests. Catholic hospitals and doctors have a responsibility to know the Church's position on this.

God knows the hearts of each of us. He will justly and merciful judge any woman who accepts any procedure that causes an abortion.

Mortal sin cannot be stumbled upon. A person who commits a mortal sin is one who knows that their sin is wrong, but still deliberately commits the sin anyway. This means that mortal sins are "premeditated" by the sinner and thus are truly a rejection of God’s law and love. If one does not know what they are doing is grave then that lack of knowledge may reduce the culpability for the sin and thus make the grave sin not mortal.

One must also have the unimpaired volition to freely choose the sin. Psychological duress, fear, emotion instability, shock, etc. are all conditions that may reduce the culpability for sin and this make the grave sin not mortal. Only God can make these determinations.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum