Page:The Great Encyclical Letters of Pope Leo XIII.djvu/418

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412
THE PROHIBITION AND CENSORSHIP OF BOOKS.

are not recorded in the new Index, must be considered as condemned in the same manner as formerly, with the exception of such as are permitted by the present General Decrees.

2. The books of apostates, heretics, schismatics, and all writers whatsoever, defending heresy or schism, or in any way attacking the foundations of religion, are altogether prohibited.

3. Moreover, the books of non-Catholics, ex professo treating of religion, are prohibited, unless they clearly contain nothing contrary to Catholic faith.

4. The books of the above-mentioned writers, not treating ex professo of religion, but only touching incidentally upon the truths of faith, are not to be considered as prohibited by ecclesiastical law, unless proscribed by special decree.

CHAPTER II.
Of Editions of the Original Text of Holy Scripture and of Versions not in the Vernacular.


5. Editions of the original text and of the ancient Catholic versions of Holy Scripture, as well as those of the Eastern Church, if published by non-Catholics, even though apparently edited in a faithful and complete manner, are allowed only to those engaged in theological and biblical studies, provided also that the dogmas of Catholic faith are not impugned in the prolegomena or annotations.

6. In the same manner, and under the same conditions, other versions of the Holy Bible, whether in Latin or in any other dead language, published by non-Catholics, are permitted.

CHAPTER III.
Of Vernacular Versions of Holy Scripture.

7. As it has been clearly shown by experience that, if the Holy Bible in the vernacular is generally permitted without any distinction, more harm than utility