- Nihil obstat
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Nihil obstat (Latin for "nothing hinders" or "nothing stands in the way")[1][2] is a declaration of no objection to an initiative or an appointment.
Apart from this general sense, the phrase is used more particularly to mean an "attestation by a church censor that a book contains nothing damaging to faith or morals".[1] The Censor Librorum delegated by a bishop of the Catholic Church reviews the text in question, but the nihil obstat is not a certification that those granting it agree with the contents, opinions or statements expressed in the work; instead, it merely confirms "that it contains nothing contrary to faith or morals."[1]
The nihil obstat is the first step in having a book published under Church auspices. If the author is a member of a religious institute and if the book is on questions of religion or morals, the book must also obtain the imprimi potest ("it can be printed") of the major superior.[3] The final approval is given through the imprimatur ("let it be printed") of the author's bishop or of the bishop of the place of publication.[4]
See also
References
- ^ a b c The America Heritage Dictionary, http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nihil%20obstat, retrieved 2009-07-30
- ^ The Importance of the Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat for Roman Catholic Literature, http://romancatholic.ws/html/imprimatur.html, retrieved 2009-07-30
- ^ Code of Canon Law, canon 832
- ^ Code of Canon Law, canon 824
External links
Categories:- Catholic theology and doctrine
- Latin religious phrases
- Censorship in Christianity
- Roman Catholic Church stubs
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