TITLE IV :
THE MEANS OF SOCIAL COMMUNICATION AND BOOKS INPARTICULAR (Cann. 822 -
832)
Can.
822 §1 In exercising their office the pastors of the Church, availing
themselves of a right which belongs to the Church, are to make an ample use of
the means of social communication.
§2 Pastors
are also to teach the faithful that they have the duty of working together so
that the use of the means of social communication may be imbued with a human
and christian spirit.
§3 All
Christ's faithful, especially those who in any way take part in the management
or use of the media, are to be diligent in assisting pastoral action, so that
the Church can more effectively exercise its office through these means.
Can.
823 §1 In order to safeguard the integrity of faith and morals, pastors of the
Church have the duty and the right to ensure that in writings or in the use of
the means of social communication there should be no ill effect on the faith
and morals of Christ's faithful. They also have the duty and the right to
demand that where writings of the faithful touch upon matters of faith and
morals, these be submitted to their judgement. Moreover, they have the duty and
the right to condemn writings which harm true faith or good morals.
§2 For
Christ's faithful entrusted to their care, the duty and the right mentioned in
§1 belong to the Bishops, both as individuals and in particular councils or
Episcopal Conferences; for the whole people of God, they belong to the supreme
authority in the Church.
Can.
824 §1 Unless it is otherwise provided, the local Ordinary whose permission or
approval for publishing a book is to be sought according to the canons of this
title, is the author's proper local Ordinary, or the Ordinary of the place in
which the book is published.
§2 Unless
the contrary is clear, what is said in the canons of this title about books,
applies also to any writings intended for publication.
Can.
825 §1 Books of the sacred Scriptures may not be published unless they are
approved by the Apostolic See or the Episcopal Conference. The publication of
translations of the sacred Scriptures requires the approval of the same authority,
and they must have necessary and sufficient explanatory notes.
§2 With the
permission of the Episcopal Conference, catholic members of Christ's faithful,
in cooperation with separated brethren, may prepare and publish versions of the
Scriptures, with appropriate explanatory notes.
Can.
826 §1 For liturgical books, the provisions of can. 838 are to be observed.
§2 To
republish liturgical books or to publish translations of all or part of them,
it must be established, by an attestation of the Ordinary of the place in which
they are published, that they accord with an approved edition.
§3 Prayer
books, for either the public or the private use of the faithful, are not to be
published except by permission of the local Ordinary.
Can.
827 §1 Without prejudice to the provisions of can. 775 §2, the publication of
catechisms and other writings pertaining to catechetical formation, as well as
their translations, requires the approval of the local Ordinary.
§2 Books dealing
with matters concerning sacred Scripture, theology, canon law, church history,
or religious or moral subjects may not be used as textbooks on which the
instruction is based, in elementary, intermediate or higher schools, unless
they were published with the approbation of the competent ecclesiastical
authority or were subsequently approved by that authority.
§3 It is
recommended that books dealing with the subjects mentioned in §2, even though
not used as basic textbooks, and any writings which specially concern religion
or good morals, be submitted to the judgement of the local Ordinary.
§4 Books or
other written material dealing with religion or morals may not be displayed,
sold or given away in churches or oratories, unless they were published with
the permission of the competent ecclesiastical authority or were subsequently
approved by that authority.
Can.
828 Collections of decrees or acts published by any ecclesiastical authority
may not be republished without first seeking the permission of the same
authority and observing the conditions which it lays down.
Can.
829 Approval or permission to publish a work is valid only for the first
edition, but not for new editions or translations.
Can.
830 §1 Every local Ordinary retains the right to appoint persons whom he
considers competent to give a judgement about books. The Episcopal Conference,
however, may draw up a list of censors who are outstanding for their knowledge,
right doctrine and prudence, to be available to diocesan curias; it may even
establish a commission of censors whom the local Ordinary can consult.
§2 In
carrying out this task, a censor must put aside all preference of persons and
look only to the teaching of the Church concerning faith and morals, as
declared by its magisterium.
§3 The
censor must give an opinion in writing. If it is favourable, the Ordinary may,
in his prudent judgement, give his permission for the work to be published,
adding his own name and the date and place of the permission. If he does not
give this permission, the Ordinary must inform the author of the reasons for
the refusal.
Can.
831 §1 Unless there is a just and reasonable cause, no member of Christ's
faithful may write in newspapers, pamphlets or periodicals which clearly are
accustomed to attack the catholic religion or good morals. Clerics and members
of religious institutes may write in them only with the permission of the local
Ordinary.
§2 It is
for the Episcopal Conference to lay down norms determining the requirements for
clerics and members of religious institutes to take part in radio and
television programmes which concern catholic doctrine or morals.
Can.
832 To publish writings on matters of religion or morals, members of religious
institutes require also the permission of their major Superior, in accordance
with the constitutions.
|