Religion:Nihil obstat
Nihil obstat (Latin for "nothing hinders" or "nothing stands in the way")[1] is a phrase traditionally used by Catholic Church authorities to formally declare that there is no objection to the publication of a book, or to some other proposed action.
Publishing
The phrase nihil obstat is used by a Catholic cleric known as a Censor Librorum (Latin for "censor of books") to indicate that a book contains nothing contrary to Catholic doctrines, faith, or morals.[1] Canon law requires this approval for the publication of books by faithful Catholics if they "touch upon matters of faith and morals", and requires that pastors enforce this rule.[2] The Censor Librorum is delegated by a bishop to review the text in question over approximately two months.[3] If an author is a member of a religious institute (such as a monastery) and the book concerns religion or morals, then canon law further requires the imprimi potest ("it can be printed") of the major superior before publication.[4] Finally, the bishop of the author's diocese or of the place of publication gives the final approval, the imprimatur ("let it be printed").[5]
Marriage
A nihil obstat also refers to the document declaring that someone is free to marry due to lack of form in the previous marriage. It can also refer to a document of dispensation from certain impediments to marriage in the Catholic Church.
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The America Heritage Dictionary, http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nihil%20obstat, retrieved 2009-07-30
- ↑ Canon 823, section 1
- ↑ Office of the Archbishop of Denver (1 January 2015). "Imprimatur Process". Denver: Archdiocese of Denver. https://archden.org/archbishop/office-archbishop/imprimatur-process/.
- ↑ "Code of Canon Law, canon 832". Intratext.com. 2007-05-04. http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P2P.HTM.
- ↑ "Code of Canon Law, canon 824". Intratext.com. 2007-05-04. http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P2P.HTM.
External links
- Code of Canon Law, The Means of Social Communication and Books in Particular (canons 822-832)
- A Word A Day: nihil obstat
Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihil obstat.
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