The Catholic Index of Books was created by the Catholic Church to prevent the faithful from reading publications considered heretical or morally wrong. It included a variety of works that contradicted or questioned Catholic doctrine and morals. The Index was abolished in 1966, but remains a significant representation of historical church censorship.
The Catholic Index of Books, officially known as the Index Librorum Prohibitorum, was a list of publications deemed heretical or contrary to morality by the Catholic Church, and therefore Catholics were forbidden to read them. The Index was created during the Counter-Reformation, specifically after the Council of Trent, as a means to prevent the contamination of the faith or the corruption of morals through the reading of theologically erroneous or morally questionable literature.
Books were added to the Index if they were considered to challenge or undermine Catholic dogma, the authority of the church, or if they contained what was deemed to be moral impurity. This includes a wide array of works, ranging from religious texts diverging from accepted doctrine to scientific texts that were at odds with church teachings.
The Index was abolished in 1966 by Pope Paul VI, as part of the reforms instituted by the Second Vatican Council, reflecting a move towards a more modern and open Catholic Church. Despite its abolishment, the Index remains a powerful historical symbol of the Catholic Church's attempts to regulate intellectual life and the circulation of ideas.