The Roman Index of Forbidden Books: An Explanation

The Roman Index of Forbidden Books is a strange little treatment of the Catholic practice of forbidding certain books and banning them from distribution or consumption. Written from a religious and pro-Catholic perspective, it lists the council process of their church and various theological reasons for the banning of literature. This work contains as well explanations of similar practices not specifically part of the index itself and lists the willful consumption of banned material as a potential mortal sin. It helpfully supplies a list of works specifically added to the index for its era, which is heavy on philosophy and logic and short on actual demonic influence.