When was the first Roman Index Librorum Prohibitorum printed?
The first Roman Index Librorum Prohibitorum was printed in 1557 under the direction of Pope Paul IV. It was subsequently withdrawn for unclear reasons before a new index appeared in 1559.
Questions about Index Librorum Prohibitorum
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who created the Sacred Congregation of the Index and when did it begin operations?
A special congregation called the Sacred Congregation of the Index was created in 1571 to investigate writings denounced in Rome as containing errors. This body updated lists regularly, held meetings several times a year, and required papal approval for additions or removals from the Index.
Which famous scientists had their works banned by the Catholic Church during the 16th and 17th centuries?
Galileo Galilei faced condemnation in 1633 after his astronomical theories conflicted with Church doctrine. Johannes Kepler's Astronomia Nova appeared on the Index from 1621 to 1835 while René Descartes went on the list in 1663.
Why was Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf not included in the Index Librorum Prohibitorum?
Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf was studied for three years but decided against inclusion because the author was a head of state. The Holy Office justified this decision by referring to chapter 13 of Paul the Apostle's Epistle to the Romans regarding state authority coming from God.
When was the final edition of the Index Librorum Prohibitorum published and when did it cease to have legal force?
The last edition of the Index to be published appeared in 1948 containing 4,000 titles censored for various reasons including heresy moral deficiency and sexual explicitness. A June 1966 notification announced that the Index no longer had the force of ecclesiastical positive law with associated penalties.