1948: Catholic Church publishes final edition of “Index Librorum Prohibitorum”

by thomassmith65on 8/13/2025, 3:26 AMwith 127 comments

by croisillonon 8/13/2025, 7:15 AM

so in french there is an expression derived from this, condemning/forbidding can be called "putting things on the index" (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mettre_%C3%A0_l%27index), and "index" is also the name of the pointer finger... so in 1990 a politician said (about a bishop, or was it about the pope himself?): "he doesn't understand how condom is to be used since he put it on the index"

by Lioon 8/13/2025, 6:24 AM

“Down with this sort of thing”

Makes me think that if this list was still published it would have a sort of Father Ted effect[1] and act as a list of books you’d definitely want to read.

1. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Passion_of_Saint_Tibulus

by Pinegulfon 8/13/2025, 6:53 AM

For the interested here is Latin version from 1835:https://archive.org/details/indexlibrorumpro00greg/mode/2up

by haritha-jon 8/13/2025, 7:46 AM

[flagged]

by photioson 8/13/2025, 6:45 AM

From Wikipedia:

> The Index was enforceable within the Papal States, but elsewhere only if adopted by the civil powers, as happened in several Italian states.

Wow, such a hugely important list that nobody seemed to care about.

by ivapeon 8/13/2025, 9:06 AM

It’s interesting that even those that concluded God like Descartes were banned.

Christ specifically was impressed with a Centurion that sought his healing power (for another, not himself) without even being a Jew or follower of Christ. As in, Christ was simply amazed:

“Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” (Matthew 8:10, NIV)

Descartes would haven fallen under such faith. I really need to study how the Catholic Church butchered so many interpretations.

by irusenseion 8/13/2025, 10:04 AM

Oh it's still maintained although the latest volumes were published by The Payment Processor Cartel(TM) under the title "Sanctions List".

by notoranditon 8/13/2025, 6:30 AM

As a Catholic I can say that was B.S.

Reading cannot be a sin. Thinking cannot be a sin. Speaking cannot be a sin.

It's a good thing that the index has been abolished in 1966.

by everyoneon 8/13/2025, 8:03 AM

I find it hilarious that Copernicus is forbidden, they cant possibly afford to let those incendiary heliocentric ideas get out!

by Ylpertnodion 8/13/2025, 8:33 AM

Is Freemasonry acceptable, yet?

by bravesoul2on 8/13/2025, 7:52 AM

> Typis Polyglotis

That's me!