Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur
What are a “nihil obstat” and an imprimatur?
Much has been published these days about all aspects of Catholicism. One way to determine if something has approval or is at least not contrary to faith is to look for the “nihil obstat” and the imprimatur. These Latin words are followed by the name of the person granting them. “Nihil obstat” means “nothing stands in the way” and indicates that there is nothing contained in the book that is contrary to Catholic doctrine or morality. Usually the person granting the “nihil obstat” is a theologian who has the necessary church credentials. The imprimatur, which means “let it be printed,” is usually given by a bishop after a thorough review of the material. It is a kind of guarantee that the printed material is Catholic in its content and teaching. This disclaimer often follows: no implication is contained therein that those who have granted the “nihil obstat” and imprimatur agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.
When looking for books that are faithful to Catholic doctrine and teaching, the “nihil obstat” and imprimatur are the easiest and surest ways of being certain of orthodox teaching.
©2009 Liturgical Publications Inc
Used with permission
