Brewer's: Index, Roman

(The). The “Roman Index” contains both the Index Librorum Prohibitorum and the Index Expurgatorius. The former contains a list of such books as are absolutely forbidden to be read by faithful Catholics. The latter contains such books as are forbidden till certain parts are omitted or amended. The lists are made out by a board of cardinals called the “Congregation of the Index.” Of course, it is wholly impossible to keep pace with the present issue of books; but, besides the Protestant Bibles, and the works of such heretics as Arius and Calvin, we find in the lists the following well-known names:

Of English authors: Addison, Bacon, Gibbon, Goldsmith, Hallam, Locke, J. S. Mill, Milton, Robertson, Archbishop Whately, etc., and even some children's tales.

Of French authors: Arnauld, Calvin, Descartes, Fénelon, l'Abbé Fleury, Malebranche, Voltaire, etc. Of Italian authors: Dante, Guicciardini, Sismondi, etc.

Of German authors: Kant, Luther, etc.

“Under the auspices of Cardinal Caraffa (part iv.). the Inquisition was introduced into Italy (1542), and exerted the utmost vigilance and severity in crushing out the new faith, and the index of prohibited books was established.” —Fisher: Universal History, part iii. period ii. chap. iv. p. 414.

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