Theological censure


In Roman Catholic theology, a theological censure is a doctrinal judgment by which the Church stigmatizes certain teachings as detrimental to faith or morals.
Theological censures have been described as the "negative corollaries" of theological notes.
That they are directed at teachings distinguishes them from canonical censures, which are spiritual punishments imposed on people.
The history of theological censures begins in the 13th century; William of Ockham appears to have been the first to attempt to formally categorise them.
Specific theological censures are divided into three groups according to as they bear principally upon the import, or the expression, or the consequences, of condemned propositions.
  1. A proposition is branded heretical when it goes directly and immediately against a revealed or defined dogma, or dogma de fide; erroneous when it contradicts only a certain theological conclusion or truth clearly deduced from two premises, one an article of faith, the other naturally certain.
  2. A proposition is ambiguous when it is worded so as to present two or more senses, one of which is objectionable; captious when acceptable words are made to express objectionable thoughts; evil-sounding when improper words are used to express otherwise acceptable truths; offensive when verbal expression is such as rightly to shock the Catholic sense and delicacy of faith.
  3. In the third category fall Subsannativa religionis, decolorativa canodris ecclesiæ, subversiva hierarchiæ, eversiva regnorum, scandelosa, perniciosa, periculosa in moribus, blasphema, idolatra, superstisiosa, magica, arrogans, acerba, etc. This enumeration, though incomplete, sufficiently draws the aim of the third group of censures; they are directed against such propositions as would imperil religion in general, the Church's sanctity, unity of government and hierarchy, civil society, morals in general, or the virtue of religion, Christian meekness, and humility in particular.