Pope Pius XII 1949 Holy Office Decree interpreting 1917 CIC 2314 (Code of Canon Law) on “Anti-Christian Communist Doctrine.” cf. Canon Law Digest, Vol. 3, by T. Lincoln Bouscaren, Imprimatur 1953, pp. 658-659. Latin: AAS 41-334.
Subject: 3x Catholic Commentaries relevant to the 1949 Pius 12 "Holy Office Decree on Communists." Attached: 'Homiletic and Pastoral Review,' [Vol. 50, #1, Oct. 1949], Section on "Roman Documents".
Donnelly, Francis B., S.T.L., J.C.D. "Holy Office Decree on Communists." In 'Homiletic and Pastoral Review,' [Vol. 50, #1, Oct. 1949], Section on "Roman Documents": "Without accepting Communism, there are some who have become identified with its activities or else have lent support to them. The Holy Office now further clarifies the dictum of Pope Pius XI, in his Encyclical Divini Redemptoris: “Communism is intrinsically evil, and no one desirous of saving civilization can collaborate with it.” It is strictly forbidden to join the Communist party or any Communist group. It is likewise strictly forbidden to show it favor, for example, by defending its activity, giving it financial support, failing as a public official to check it when such is one's duty. It is seriously wrong to publish or disseminate, or even to contribute to, Communist publications, which support either Communist doctrine of policy. The Decree does not indicate how far a publication must support Communism in order to come under this ban. That is a question of fact to be decided in the individual case on the basis of the regular content of the publication. Furthermore, the faithful are forbidden to cooperate with Communism by reading any of its publications. Those who have need of doing so by reason of their profession or in order to expose its pernicious errors must seek the required permission from the local Ordinary, who is empowered by law to make exceptions in individual cases (Canon 1402, n. 1).”
“Problems in Canon Law: Classified Replies to Practical Questions,” by Rev. William Conway, D.D., D.C.L.; Newman Press, 1956 (Nihil Obstat and Imprimi Potest, 1956), p. 322: “B. THOSE WHO HAVE EXTERNALLY MANIFESTED ACCEPTANCE OF THE MATERIALIST AND ANTI-CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNISM.
“Those who, by words or conduct, externally manifest that they personally accept the materialist and anti-Christian doctrine of Communism are apostates from the Christian religion and incur excommunication ipso facto. This excommunication may be absolved in the external forum, if the necessary conditions are fulfilled, by the local Ordinary, but not by the Vicar-General unless he has a special mandate [2: Canon 2314, n. 2. See pages 313-14 above.] Absolution in the external forum takes effect in the internal forum also, of course, but direct absolution from the censure in the internal forum is reserved to the Holy See.”
“Portrait of Pius XII,” by Nazareno Padellaro. Translated by Michael Derrick. Publisher: E.P. Dutton & Co., Inc., 1957 (Imprimatur & Nihil Obstat, 1956), p. 223: “On 1st July 1949 the Holy Office, of which the Pope is always Prefect, published a formal announcement that ‘Catholics who profess, and particularly those who defend and spread, the materialistic and anti-Christian doctrine of the Communists, ipso facto, as apostates from the Catholic Faith, incur excommunication.’ This was in reply to a dubium, a question posted to elucidate the position of those who gave their support to the Communist Party.”
