The censorship of the Church of Rome and its influence upon the production and distribution of literature, volume 1 (of 2)Putnam, George Haven
History
The censorship of the Church of Rome and its influence upon the production and distribution of literature, volume 1 (of 2)
Putnam, George Haven
Freedom of the press; Liberty of conscience; Prohibited books
_1521, April 18._ _Pope Leo_ sends a brief to Cardinal Wolsey directing
him to carry out the orders for the burning of copies of Luther’s
writings. The Cardinal had evidently delayed the promulgation of the
Bull _Exurge_. The Pope sends Wolsey a copy of Luther’s treatise on the
Babylonian captivity, with the remark that not only the book but the
author ought to be burned. Thereupon Wolsey, in his capacity as legate,
after consideration with the Archbishop of Canterbury, and with the
approval of the king, orders the destruction of all copies of Luther’s
writings to be found in England.[82]
_1520, June 12._ _Pope Leo_ orders a formal burning in Rome of the
available copies of Luther’s writings. With these was burned an effigy
of Luther himself.
=2. The Bull Coenae Domini, 1364–1586.=--The Bull of the Lord’s Supper
presents a collection of the various excommunications which had been
ordered by successive popes against certain specified classes of
persons, and also against certain individuals on the ground of heresy.
In its original wording, it dates from Urban V in 1364,[83] but the
form in use through the period of the Reformation was given by Julius
II in 1511. Less important changes were made by later popes. Julius
II specifies as under excommunication a number of heretical sects,
including the Wyclifites or Hussites. The schedule reads: _Patarenos,
Pauperes de Lugduno, Arnaldistas, Speronistas, Passagenos, Wiclifitas
seu Hussitas, Fraticellos de Opinione nuncupatos, et quoscumque alios
haereticos ac omnes fautores_.[84]
_1517._ _Leo X_ prohibits, under penalty of the _ex latae sententiae_,
the further printing of the _editio princeps_ of the first five
books of the History of Tacitus, which had been published by Philip
Beroaldus in 1516, under a Milan privilege.
The conclusions of the Casuists in regard to the effect of the
prohibitions in the _Bulla Coenae_ are summarised as follows by
Ferraris[85]: In order that the reading of a book shall bring upon the
delinquent the threatened excommunication,
1st. The book must be the production of an actual heretic (not merely
of one not baptised, or of a Catholic who through heedlessness or
ignorance has given utterance to heresy);
2d. It must contain a heresy, or must have to do with religious matters;
3d. The reader must have knowledge that the book is the work of a
heretic, and contains heresy or treats of religion;
4th. The reading must have been done without the permission of the
Apostolic Chair;
5th. The reading must be sufficient in amount to constitute a mortal
sin. This amount has naturally been variously defined, so as to cover
the entire work (Sanchez) or a single page, or two lines (Toletus). [86]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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