Nihil obstat
Encyclopedia
Nihil obstat is a declaration of no objection to an initiative or an appointment.
Apart from this general sense, the phrase is used more particularly to mean an "attestation by a church censor that a book contains nothing damaging to faith or morals". The Censor Librorum
delegated by a bishop
of the Catholic Church reviews the text in question, but the nihil obstat is not a certification that those granting it agree with the contents, opinions or statements expressed in the work; instead, it merely confirms "that it contains nothing contrary to faith or morals."
The nihil obstat is the first step in having a book published under Church auspices. If the author is a member of a religious institute
and if the book is on questions of religion or morals, the book must also obtain the imprimi potest
("it can be printed") of the major superior. The final approval is given through the imprimatur
("let it be printed") of the author's bishop or of the bishop of the place of publication.
Apart from this general sense, the phrase is used more particularly to mean an "attestation by a church censor that a book contains nothing damaging to faith or morals". The Censor Librorum
Censor Librorum
In the Roman Catholic Church, the Censor Librorum is an ecclesiastical authority charged with reviewing texts and granting the nihil obstat. The Latin Censor Librorum translates as "censor of books."...
delegated by a bishop
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
of the Catholic Church reviews the text in question, but the nihil obstat is not a certification that those granting it agree with the contents, opinions or statements expressed in the work; instead, it merely confirms "that it contains nothing contrary to faith or morals."
The nihil obstat is the first step in having a book published under Church auspices. If the author is a member of a religious institute
Religious order
A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious practice. The order is composed of initiates and, in some...
and if the book is on questions of religion or morals, the book must also obtain the imprimi potest
Imprimi potest
Imprimi potest is a declaration by a major superior of a Roman Catholic religious institute that a book on questions of religion or morals written by a member of the institute may be printed. Superiors make such declarations only after censors charged with examining the books have granted the...
("it can be printed") of the major superior. The final approval is given through the imprimatur
Imprimatur
An imprimatur is, in the proper sense, a declaration authorizing publication of a book. The term is also applied loosely to any mark of approval or endorsement.-Catholic Church:...
("let it be printed") of the author's bishop or of the bishop of the place of publication.