Can. 747 §1 It is the obligation and inherent right of the Church,
independent of any human authority, to preach the Gospel to all peoples, using
for this purpose even its own means of social communication, for it is to the
Church that Christ the Lord entrusted the deposit of faith, so that by the assistance
of the Holy Spirit, it might conscientiously guard revealed truth, more intimately
penetrate it, and faithfully proclaim and expound it.
§2 The Church has the right always and everywhere to proclaim moral principles,
even in respect of the social order, and to make judgements about any human
matter in so far as this is required by fundamental human rights or the salvation
of souls.
Can. 748 §1 All are bound to seek the truth in the matters which
concern God and his Church; when they have found it, then by divine law they
are bound, and they have the right, to embrace and keep it.
§2 It is never lawful for anyone to force others to embrace the catholic
faith against their conscience.
Can. 749 §1 In virtue of his office the Supreme Pontiff is infallible
in his teaching when, as chief Shepherd and Teacher of all Christ’s faithful,
with the duty of strengthening his brethren in the faith, he proclaims by definitive
act a doctrine to be held concerning faith or morals.
§2 The College of Bishops also possesses infallibility in its teaching
when the Bishops, gathered together in an Ecumenical Council and exercising
their magisterium as teachers and judges of faith and morals, definitively declare
for the universal Church a doctrine to be held concerning faith or morals; likewise,
when the Bishops, dispersed throughout the world but maintaining the bond of
union among themselves and with the successor of Peter, together with the same
Roman Pontiff authentically teach matters of faith or morals, and are agreed
that a particular teaching is definitively to be held.
§3 No doctrine is understood to be infallibly defined unless this is manifestly
demonstrated.
Can. 750 Those things are to be believed by divine and catholic faith
which are contained in the word of God as it has been written or handed down
by tradition, that is, in the single deposit of faith entrusted to the Church,
and which are at the same time proposed as divinely revealed either by the solemn
magisterium of the Church, or by its ordinary and universal magisterium, which
is manifested by the common adherence of Christ’s faithful under the guidance
of the sacred magisterium. All are therefore bound to shun any contrary doctrines.
Can. 751 Heresy is the obstinate denial or doubt, after baptism, of a
truth which must be believed by divine and catholic faith. Apostasy is the total
repudiation of the christian faith. Schism is the withdrawal of submission to
the Supreme Pontiff or from communion with the members of the Church subject
to him.
Can. 752 While the assent of faith is not required, a religious submission
of intellect and will is to be given to any doctrine which either the Supreme
Pontiff or the College of Bishops, exercising their authentic magisterium, declare
upon a matter of faith or morals, even though they do not intend to proclaim
that doctrine by definitive act. Christ’s faithful are therefore to ensure
that they avoid whatever does not accord with that doctrine.
Can. 753 Whether they teach individually, or in Episcopal Conferences,
or gathered together in particular councils, Bishops in communion with the head
and the members of the College, while not infallible in their teaching, are
the authentic instructors and teachers of the faith for Christ’s faithful
entrusted to their care. The faithful are bound to adhere, with a religious
submission of mind, to this authentic magisterium of their Bishops.
Can. 754 All Christ’s faithful are obliged to observe the constitutions
and decrees which lawful ecclesiastical authority issues for the purpose of
proposing doctrine or of proscribing erroneous opinions; this is particularly
the case of those published by the Roman Pontiff or by the College of Bishops.
Can. 755 §1 It pertains especially to the entire College of Bishops
and to the Apostolic See to foster and direct among catholics the ecumenical
movement, the purpose of which is the restoration of unity between all christians
which, by the will of Christ, the Church is bound to promote.
§2 It is a matter likewise for Bishops and, in accordance with the law,
for Episcopal Conferences, to promote this same unity and, in line with the
various needs and opportunities of the circumstances, to issue practical norms
which accord with the provisions laid down by the supreme authority of the Church.
Can. 756 §1 The office of preaching the Gospel to the whole Church
has been committed principally to the Roman Pontiff and to the College of Bishops.
§2 For the particular Churches entrusted to them, that office is exercised
by the individual Bishops, who are the moderators of the entire ministry of
the word in their Churches. Sometimes, however, in accordance with the law,
a number of Bishops simultaneously carry out that office together in respect
of a number of different Churches.
Can. 757 It belongs to priests, as co operators of the Bishops, to proclaim
the Gospel of God. For the people entrusted to their care, this task rests especially
on parish priests, and on other priests entrusted with the care of souls. Deacons
also are to serve the people of God in the ministry of the word, in union with
the Bishop and his presbyterium.
Can. 758 By reason of their consecration to God, members of institutes
of consecrated life bear particular witness to the Gospel, and so are fittingly
called upon by the Bishop to help in proclaiming the Gospel.
Can. 759 The lay members of Christ’s faithful, by reason of their
baptism and confirmation, are witnesses to the good news of the Gospel, by their
words and by the example of their christian life. They can also be called upon
to cooperate with Bishops and priests in the exercise of the ministry of the
word.
Can. 760 The mystery of Christ is to be faithfully and fully presented
in the ministry of the word, which must be founded upon sacred Scripture, Tradition,
liturgy and the magisterium and life of the Church.
Can. 761 While pride of place must always be given to preaching and catechetical
instruction, all the available means of proclaiming christian doctrine are to
be used: the exposition of doctrine in schools, in institutes of higher learning,
at conferences and meetings of all kinds; public declarations by lawful authority
on the occasion of certain events; the printed word and other means of social
communication.
Can. 762 The people of God are first united through the word of the
living God, and are fully entitled to seek this word from their priests. For
this reason sacred ministers are to consider the office of preaching as of great
importance, since proclaiming the Gospel of God to all is among their principal
duties.
Can. 763 Bishops have the right to preach the word of God everywhere,
even in churches and oratories of religious institutes of pontifical right,
unless the local Bishop has expressly forbidden it in particular cases.
Can. 764 Without prejudice to the provisions of Can. 765, priests and
deacons, with the at least presumed consent of the rector of a church, have
the faculty to preach everywhere, unless this faculty has been restricted or
removed by the competent Ordinary, or unless particular law requires express
permission.
Can. 765 To preach to religious in their churches or oratories, permission
is required of the Superior who is competent according to their constitutions.
Can. 766 The laity may be allowed to preach in a church or oratory if
in certain circumstances it is necessary, or in particular cases it would be
advantageous, according to the provisions of the Episcopal Conference and without
prejudice to Can. 767 §1.
Can. 767 §1 The most important form of preaching is the homily,
which is part of the liturgy, and is reserved to a priest or deacon. In the
course of the liturgical year, the mysteries of faith and the rules of christian
living are to be expounded in the homily from the sacred text.
§2 At all Masses on Sundays and holydays of obligation, celebrated with
a congregation, there is to be a homily and, except for a grave reason, this
may not be omitted.
§3 It is strongly recommended that, if a sufficient number of people are
present, there be a homily at weekday Masses also, especially during Advent
and Lent, or on a feast day or an occasion of grief.
§4 It is the responsibility of the parish priest or the rector of a church
to ensure that these provisions are carefully observed.
Can. 768 §1 Those who announce the word of God to Christ’s
faithful are first and foremost to set out those things which it is necessary
to believe and to practise for the glory of God and the salvation of all.
§2 They are also to explain to the faithful the teaching of the magisterium
of the Church concerning the dignity and freedom of the human person; the unity,
stability and duties of the family; people’s social obligations and the
ordering of temporal affairs according to the plan established by God.
Can. 769 Christian teaching is to be explained in a manner that is suited
to the condition of the hearers and adapted to the circumstances of the times.
Can. 770 At certain times, according to the regulations of the diocesan
Bishop, parish priests are to arrange for sermons in the form of retreats and
missions, as they are called, or in other forms adapted to requirements.
Can. 771 §1 Pastors of souls, especially Bishops and parish priests,
are to be solicitous that the word of God is preached to those also of the faithful
who, because of the circumstances of their lives, cannot sufficiently avail
themselves of the ordinary pastoral care or are even totally deprived of it.
§2 They are also to take care that the good news of the Gospel reaches
those living in their territory who are non believers, since these too, no less
than the faithful, must be included in the care of souls.
Can. 772 §1 In the exercise of the office of preaching, everyone
is moreover to observe the norms laid down by the Bishop of the diocese.
§2 In expounding christian teaching on radio or television, the provisions
of the Episcopal Conference are to be observed.
Can. 773 It is pastors of souls especially who have the serious duty
of attending to the catechesis of the christian people, so that, through doctrinal
formation and the experience of the christian life, the living faith of the
people may be manifest and active.
Can. 774 §1 The care for catechesis, under the direction of lawful
ecclesiastical authority, extends to all members of the Church, to each according
to his or her role.
§2 Before all others, parents are bound to form their children, by word
and example, in faith and in christian living. The same obligation binds godparents
and those who take the place of parents.
Can. 775 §1 While observing provisions made by the Apostolic See
it is the responsibility of diocesan Bishops to issue norms concerning catechetical
matters; to ensure that appropriate means of catechesis are available, even
by preparing a catechism, if this seems opportune; to foster and to coordinate
catechetical initiatives.
§2 If it is thought to be useful, the Episcopal Conference may, with the
prior approval of the Apostolic See, publish catechisms for its territory.
§3 The Episcopal Conference may establish a catechetical office, whose
principal purpose is to assist individual dioceses in catechetical matters.
Can. 776 By virtue of his office, the parish priest is bound to ensure
the catechetical formation of adults, young people and children. To this end,
he is to avail himself of the help of clerics attached to the parish, as well
as of members of institutes of consecrated life and of societies of apostolic
life, being mindful of the character of each institute; and the assistance of
lay members of Christ’s faithful, especially catechists. All of these,
unless they are lawfully impeded, are not to refuse to give their labours willingly.
The parish priest is also to promote and to foster the role of parents in the
family catechesis mentioned in Can. 774, §2.
Can. 777 In a special way, the parish priest is to ensure, in accordance
with the norms laid down by the diocesan Bishop, that:
1° an adequate catechesis is given for the celebration of the sacraments;
2° children are properly prepared for first confession and first holy communion,
and for the sacrament of confirmation, by means of catechetical formation over
an appropriate period of time;
3° children, after they have made their first holy communion, are given
a richer and deeper catechetical formation;
4° as far as their condition allows, catechetical formation is given to
the mentally and physically handicapped;
5° the faith of young people and of adults is strengthened, enlightened
and developed by various catechetical methods and initiatives .
Can. 778 Religious Superiors and Superiors of societies of apostolic
life are to ensure that catechetical formation is diligently given in their
churches and schools, and in other works in any way entrusted to their care.
Can. 779 Catechetical formation is to be given by employing all those
aids, educational resources and means of communication which seem the more effective
in securing that the faithful, according to their character capability, age
and circumstances of life, may be more fully steeped in catholic teaching and
prepared to put it into practice.
Can. 780 Local Ordinaries are to ensure that catechists are duly trained
to carry out their office properly, namely, that continuing formation is available
to them, that they have an appropriate knowledge of the teaching of the Church,
and that they learn both the theory and the practice of the principles of pedagogy.
Can. 781 Because the whole Church is of its nature missionary and the
work of evangelisation is to be considered a fundamental duty of the people
of God, all Christ’s faithful must be conscious of the responsibility
to play their part in missionary activity.
Can. 782 §1 The Roman Pontiff and the College of Bishops have the
responsibility for the overall direction and coordination of the initiatives
and activities which concern missionary work and cooperation.
§2 As the sponsors of the universal Church and of all the Churches, all
Bishops are to have a special solicitude for missionary activity, especially
by arousing, fostering and sustaining missionary initiatives in their own particular
Churches.
Can. 783 Members of institutes of consecrated life, because of the dedication
to the service of the Church deriving from their very consecration, have an
obligation to play a zealous and special part in missionary activity, in a manner
appropriate to their institute.
Can. 784 Missionaries, that is, those who have been sent by the competent
ecclesiastical authority to engage in missionary activity, may be chosen from
the indigenous population or from others, be they secular clergy, or members
of institutes of consecrated life or of a society of apostolic life, or other
lay members of Christ’s faithful.
Can. 785 §1 Catechists are to be given a role in missionary work.
These are lay members of Christ’s faithful who have received proper formation
and are outstanding in their living of the christian life. Under the direction
of missionaries, they are to present the Gospel teaching and engage in liturgical
worship and in works of charity.
§2 Catechists are to receive their formation in schools founded for this
purpose. If there are no such schools, they are to be formed under the direction
of the missionaries.
Can. 786 Missionary activity properly so called, whereby the Church is
founded amongst peoples or groups where it has not taken root before, is performed
principally by the Church sending heralds of the Gospel, until such time as
the new Churches are fully constituted, that is, have their own resources and
sufficient means, so that they themselves can carry on the work of evangelisation.
Can. 787 §1 By the testimony of their words and of their lives,
missionaries are to establish a sincere dialogue with those who do not believe
in Christ, so that, taking their native character and culture into account,
ways may be opened up by which they can be led to know the good news of the
Gospel.
§2 Missionaries are to ensure that they teach the truths of the faith to
those whom they judge to be ready to receive the good news of the Gospel, so
that, if they freely request it, they may be admitted to the reception of baptism.
Can. 788 §1 Those who have expressed the wish to embrace faith in
Christ, and who have completed the period of their preliminary catechumenate,
are to be admitted to the catechumenate proper in a liturgical ceremony; and
their names are to be inscribed in the book which is kept for this purpose.
§2 By formation and their first steps in christian living, catechumens
are to be initiated into the mysteries of salvation, and introduced into the
life of faith, liturgy and charity of the people of God, as well as into the
apostolate.
§3 It is the responsibility of the Episcopal Conference to establish norms
concerning the arrangement of the catechumenate, determining what should be
done by catechumens and what should be their prerogatives.
Can. 789 By means of appropriate formation, neophytes are to be led to
a deeper knowledge of the Gospel truths, and to the fulfilment of the duties
undertaken in baptism. They are also to be imbued with a sincere love of Christ
and his Church.
Can. 790 §1 In mission territories, it is the responsibility of
the diocesan Bishop:
1° to promote, regulate and coordinate both new initiatives and established
works concerning missionary activity;
2° to ensure that there are proper agreements with the Moderators of those
institutes which dedicate themselves to missionary activities, and that relationships
with them are for the good of the mission.
§2 The provisions made by the diocesan Bishop in accordance with §1,
n. 1 are binding on all missionaries, including religious and their helpers
residing in his territory.
Can. 791 In order to foster missionary cooperation, in each diocese:
1° vocations to the mission are to be promoted;
2° a priest is to be appointed to promote missionary initiatives, especially
the ‘Pontifical Missionary Works’;
3° a day for the missions is to be celebrated annually;
4° each year an appropriate financial contribution for the missions is to
be sent to the Holy See.
Can. 792 The Episcopal Conference is to establish and promote means by
which those who come to their territory from the missions, for the purpose of
work or study, are to be given a fraternal welcome and helped with suitable
pastoral care.
Can. 793 §1 Parents, and those who take their place, have both
the obligation and the right to educate their children. Catholic parents have
also the duty and the right to choose those means and institutes which, in their
local circumstances, can best promote the catholic education of their children.
§2 Parents have moreover the right to avail themselves of that assistance
from civil society which they need to provide a catholic education for their
children.
Can. 794 §1 The Church has in a special way the duty and the right
of educating, for it has a divine mission of helping all to arrive at the fullness
of christian life.
§2 Pastors of souls have the duty of making all possible arrangements so
that all the faithful may avail themselves of a catholic education.
Can. 795 Education must pay regard to the formation of the whole person,
so that all may attain their eternal destiny and at the same time promote the
common good of society. Children and young persons are therefore to be cared
for in such a way that their physical, moral and intellectual talents may develop
in a harmonious manner, so that they may attain a greater sense of responsibility
and a right use of freedom, and be formed to take an active part in social life.
Can. 796 §1 Among the means of advancing education, Christ’s
faithful are to consider schools as of great importance, since they are the
principal means of helping parents to fulfil their role in education.
§2 There must be the closest cooperation between parents and the teachers
to whom they entrust their children to be educated. In fulfilling their task,
teachers are to collaborate closely with the parents and willingly listen to
them; associations and meetings of parents are to be set up and held in high
esteem.
Can. 797 Parents must have a real freedom in their choice of schools.
For this reason Christ’s faithful must be watchful that the civil society
acknowledges this freedom of parents and, in accordance with the requirements
of distributive justice, even provides them with assistance.
Can. 798 Parents are to send their children to those schools which will
provide for their catholic education. If they cannot do this, they are bound
to ensure the proper catholic education of their children outside the school.
Can. 799 Christ’s faithful are to strive to secure that in the
civil society the laws which regulate the formation of the young, also provide
a religious and moral education in the schools that is in accord with the conscience
of the parents.
Can. 800 §1 The Church has the right to establish and to direct
schools for any field of study or of any kind and grade.
§2 Christ’s faithful are to promote catholic schools, doing everything
possible to help in establishing and maintaining them.
Can. 801 Religious institutes which have education as their mission are
to keep faithfully to this mission and earnestly strive to devote themselves
to catholic education, providing this also through their own schools which,
with the consent of the diocesan Bishop, they have established.
Can. 802 §1 If there are no schools in which an education is provided
that is imbued with a christian spirit, the diocesan Bishop has the responsibility
of ensuring that such schools are established.
§2 Where it is suitable, the diocesan Bishop is to provide for the establishment
of professional and technical schools, and of other schools catering for special
needs.
Can. 803 §1 A catholic school is understood to be one which is under
the control of the competent ecclesiastical authority or of a public ecclesiastical
juridical person, or one which in a written document is acknowledged as catholic
by the ecclesiastical authority.
§2 Formation and education in a catholic school must be based on the principles
of catholic doctrine, and the teachers must be outstanding in true doctrine
and uprightness of life.
§3 No school, even if it is in fact catholic, may bear the title ‘catholic
school’ except by the consent of the competent ecclesiastical authority.
Can. 804 §1 The formation and education in the catholic religion
provided in any school, and through various means of social communication is
subject to the authority of the Church. It is for the Episcopal Conference to
issue general norms concerning this field of activity and for the diocesan Bishop
to regulate and watch over it.
§2 The local Ordinary is to be careful that those who are appointed as
teachers of religion in schools, even non catholic ones, are outstanding in
true doctrine, in the witness of their christian life, and in their teaching
ability.
Can. 805 In his own diocese, the local Ordinary has the right to appoint
or to approve teachers of religion and, if religious or moral considerations
require it, the right to remove them or to demand that they be removed.
Can. 806 §1 The diocesan Bishop has the right to watch over and
inspect the catholic schools situated in his territory, even those established
or directed by members of religious institutes. He has also the right to issue
directives concerning the general regulation of catholic schools these directives
apply also to schools conducted by members of a religious institute, although
they retain their autonomy in the internal management of their schools.
§2 Those who are in charge of catholic schools are to ensure, under the
supervision of the local Ordinary, that the formation given in them is, in its
academic standards, at least as outstanding as that in other schools in the
area.
Can. 807 The Church has the right to establish and to govern universi-ties,
which serve to promote the deeper culture and fuller development of the human
person, and to complement the Church’s own teaching office.
Can. 808 No university, even if it is in fact catholic, may bear the
title ‘catholic university’ except by the consent of the competent
ecclesiastical authority.
Can. 809 If it is possible and appropriate, Episcopal Conferences are
to take care to have within their territories suitably located universities
or at least faculties, in which the various disciplines, while retaining their
own scientific autonomy, may be researched and taught in the light of catholic
doctrine.
Can. 810 §1 In catholic universities it is the duty of the competent
statutory authority to ensure that there be appointed teachers who are not only
qualified in scientific and pedagogical expertise, but are also outstanding
in their integrity of doctrine and uprightness of life. If these requirements
are found to be lacking, it is also that authority’s duty to see to it
that these teachers are removed from office, in accordance with the procedure
determined in the statutes.
§2 The Episcopal Conference and the diocesan Bishops concerned have the
duty and the right of seeing to it that, in these universities, the principles
of catholic doctrine are faithfully observed.
Can. 811 §1 The competent ecclesiastical authority is to ensure
that in catholic universities there is established a faculty or an institute
or at least a chair of theology, in which lectures are given to lay students
also.
§2 In every catholic university there are to be lectures which principally
treat of those theological questions connected with the studies of each faculty.
Can. 812 Those who teach theological subjects in any institute of higher
studies must have a mandate from the competent ecclesiastical authority.
Can. 813 The diocesan Bishop is to be zealous in his pastoral care of
students, even by the creation of a special parish, or at least by appointing
priests with a stable assignment to this care. In all universities, even in
those which are not catholic, the diocesan Bishop is to provide catholic university
centres, to be of assistance to the young people, especially in spiritual matters.
Can. 814 The provisions which are laid down for universities apply equally
to other institutes of higher studies.
Can. 815 By virtue of its office to announce revealed truth, it belongs
to the Church to have its own ecclesiastical universities and faculties to study
the sacred sciences and subjects related to them, and to teach these disciplines
to students in a scientific manner.
Can. 816 §1 Ecclesiastical universities and faculties may be constituted
only by the Apostolic See or with its approval. Their overall direction also
belongs to the Apostolic See.
§2 Each ecclesiastical university and faculty must have its own statutes
and program of studies, approved by the Apostolic See.
Can. 817 Only a university or a faculty established or approved by the
Apostolic See may confer academic degrees which have canonical effects in the
Church.
Can. 818 The provisions of Cann. 810,812 and 813 concerning catholic
universities apply also to ecclesiastical universities and faculties.
Can. 819 In so far as the good of a diocese or religious institute or
indeed even of the universal Church requires it, young persons, clerics and
members of institutes, outstanding in character, intelligence and virtue, must
be sent to ecclesiastical universities or faculties by their diocesan Bishops
or the Superiors of their institutes.
Can. 820 Moderators and professors of ecclesiastical universities and
faculties are to ensure that the various faculties of the university cooperate
with each other, to the extent that their aims permit. They are also to ensure
that between their own university or faculty and other universities and faculties,
even non ecclesiastical ones, there be a mutual cooperation in which, through
conferences, coordinated scientific research and other means, they work together
for the greater increase of scientific knowledge.
Can. 821 Where it is possible, the Episcopal Conference and the diocesan
Bishop are to provide for the establishment of institutes for higher religious
studies, in which are taught theological and other subjects pertaining to christian
culture.
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.
Can. 833 The following are personally bound to make a profession of
faith, according to the formula approved by the Apostolic See:
1° in the presence of the president or his delegate: all who, with a deliberative
or a consultative vote, take part in an Ecumenical Council, a particular council,
the synod of Bishops, or a diocesan synod; in the presence of the council or
synod: the president himself ;
2° in accordance with the statutes of the sacred College: those promoted
to the dignity of Cardinal;
3° in the presence of a delegate of the Apostolic See: all who are promoted
to the episcopate, and all those who are equivalent to a diocesan Bishop;
4° in the presence of the college of consultors: the diocesan Administrator;
5° in the presence of the diocesan Bishop or his delegate: Vicars general,
episcopal Vicars and judicial Vicars;
6° in the presence of the local Ordinary or his delegate: parish priests;
the rector, professors of theology and philosophy in seminaries, at the beginning
of their term of office; and those who are to be promoted to the order of diaconate;
7° in the presence of the Chancellor or, in the absence of the Chancellor,
the local Ordinary, or the delegates of either: the rector of an ecclesiastical
or catholic university, at the beginning of the term of office in the presence
of the rector if he is a priest, or of the local Ordinary or the delegates of
either: those who in any universities teach subjects which deal with faith or
morals, at the beginning of their term of office;
8° in accordance with the constitutions: Superiors in religious institutes
and clerical societies of apostolic life.