Diocesan Resources
The Permission to Publish: A Resource for Diocesan and Eparchial Bishops on the Approvals Needed to Publish Various Kinds of Written Works (2004)
The Permission to Publish: A Resource for Diocesan and Eparchial Bishops on the Approvals Needed to Publish Various Kinds of Written Works by the USCCB Committee on Doctrine
The diocesan or eparchial bishop is, for the people entrusted to him, a source of unity within the diocese or eparchy and an authoritative teacher of the faith. The responsibility of authorizing written materials that treat questions of faith and morals is one aspect of the bishop’s unique role as pastor and teacher, and an important way in which he exercises his supervisory function over the ministry of the Word.
In a November 1990 circular letter to the presidents of the episcopal conferences, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, set forth several matters relative to the functioning of episcopal conference doctrinal commissions. One of the essential responsibilities of these commissions, he noted, is “to provide assistance to each bishop in the task of monitoring and evaluating theological works (books and reviews) published in his territory.”
In fulfilling this aspect of its mandate, the Committee on Doctrine of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, working collaboratively with other conference committees, has prepared a concise resource that summarizes the Church’s legislation on the authorization of certain publications. This resource is being offered as a service to diocesan and eparchial bishops in the further exercise of their teaching ministry.