logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2024
11m 42s

The Vatican's Naughty Library

The Retrospectors
About this episode

Rerun: Circulated in some form since the 16th century, the ‘Index of Forbidden Books’ was quietly discontinued by Pope Paul VI on 14th June, 1966.

In its 400-year+ history, the Index Librorum Prohibitorum had censored hundreds of authors including the German astrologer Keppler, the philosopher Kant, and Protestant theologians Martin Luther and John Calvin. But Darwin wasn’t included - because all books about atheism were automatically considered heretical.

In this episode, Rebecca, Arion and Olly explain the processes behind the scenes; revisit some choice exchanges between Catholic scholars; and reveal the books they’d ban forever - if only they could...

Further Reading:

• ‘Roman Catholics: The Issue of Imprimatur’ (TIME, 1966): http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,836269,00.html

• Wikipedia’s list of Authors and Works in the Index: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_authors_and_works_on_the_Index_Librorum_Prohibitorum

• ‘Vatican: Forbidden Works’ from Journeyman Pictures:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_S81oSR2AA


‘Why am I hearing a rerun?’

Each Thursday and Friday we repeat stories from our archive of 800+ episodes, so we can maintain the quality of our independent podcast and bring you fresh, free content every Monday-Wednesday… 


… But 🌴CLUB RETROSPECTORS🌴members get an additional full-length episode each Sunday! Join now with a free trial on Apple Podcasts or Patreon and support our show ❤️


The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.

Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Emma Corsham.

Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up next
Today
Adventures of the Boy Horsemen
The ‘Abernathy Boys’, Temple and Louis, were aged just 5 and 8 respectively when they departed Guthrie, Oklahoma for a 1,300-mile horseback trip to Roswell, New Mexico on July 10th, 1909. Alone. Sons of widower John Abernathy, himself the youngest-ever U.S. Marshal, the boys enco ... Show More
12m 25s
Yesterday
Bill Haley's Teenage Anthem
Rock Around The Clock was a moderately successful B-side - until its inclusion in the teen rebellion movie Blackboard Jungle - following which, on 9th July, 1955, Bill Haley and the Comets’ earworm became the first rock n’roll song to hit US No.1. But Haley was no teenage rebel. ... Show More
13m 25s
Jul 8
The Miracle in the Ashes
‘Our Lady of Kazan’, a painting of the Virgin and Child, was discovered in the ashes of a fire in the Russian town of Kazan on 8th July, 1579. The icon quickly became associated with miracles after two blind men were said to have their sight restored by standing in front of it. T ... Show More
11m 35s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2021
November 28, 1520: The Articles of Antichrist [Rebroadcast]
If Martin Luther is right about the Bible's message of salvation, then the Roman Catholic Church must reform itself--radically. Today, the monk's books are being burned in the streets, but this only drives Luther to write more boldly in defense of the gospel. A donor-supported ou ... Show More
11m 37s
Sep 2022
Forbidden Books
What makes a book bad? Does it have to be nonsensical? Heretical? Libellous? Sexy? Well for 500 years, a panel from the Roman Catholic Church attempted to grapple with this distinction. Today Betwixt the Sheets, we find out what this collection of people deemed unsafe for the eye ... Show More
44 m
Nov 2020
November 28, 1520: The Articles of Antichrist
If Martin Luther is right about the Bible's message of salvation, then the Roman Catholic Church must reform itself--radically. Today, the monk's books are being burned in the streets, but this only drives Luther to write more boldly in defense of the gospel. A donor-supported ou ... Show More
12m 32s
Jan 2024
1052: Vatican Scandal Exposed: Did Cardinal have a Secret Sex Book? [Podcast]
Argentine insiders have discovered and made public a hidden away 1998 book containing graphic and gravely immoral chapters by Victor Manuel Cardinal Fernández – the Pope’s ghost writer and author of the recent Vatican document encouraging the blessing of same sex couples.Get the ... Show More
41m 10s
Nov 2020
November 24, 1520: Dinner with Luther
Students are flocking to the university in Wittenberg to learn under Martin Luther, and he takes delight in freeing them from the Roman Catholic superstitions that once held him captive. Today, sit with Luther and one of his pupils at the dinner table for an animated discussion. ... Show More
9m 10s
Mar 2023
Jews & the Inquisition in Italy
Between 1598 and 1785, the Papal or Roman Inquisition in Modena, Northern Italy, put 393 Jews on trial. Regarded as infidels, Jews were accused of, among other things, blasphemy, employing a Christian servant, owning prohibited books, and having sex with Christians. But the trial ... Show More
36m 51s
Nov 2021
Dr. Dark: Social Justice, Elton John, and the Bible
Send us a textIn this episode, Katie chats with David Dark, a critically acclaimed author and Assistant Professor of Religion and the Arts in the College of Theology at Belmont University. His books include “Life’s Too Short To Pretend You’re Not Religious” “The Sacredness of Que ... Show More
1h 8m
Sep 2021
Introducing Season 2
Walk again with Martin Luther to hear how God used the conviction of a lone German monk to spark reformation in the church and change the world forever. Every Friday, listen to the high points from the original series or experience Luther's gripping story for the first time. Seas ... Show More
1m 37s
Jan 2024
1054: Why does Francis hate Latin Mass? [Podcast]
Speaking to LifeSiteNews, Pope Francis defended his 2021 restrictions of the Traditional Latin Mass” in his infamous motu proprio Traditionis Custodes: “Read the motu proprio; everything is there for you.”Get Dr. Marshall’s book Antichrist and Apocalypse: https://amzn.to/3O50lR4G ... Show More
57 m