Office of Censors of Books
Upholding Doctrinal Integrity
Overview
The Office of Censors of Books in the Diocese of Brooklyn exists to assist the Diocesan Bishop in his authoritative teaching role, ensuring that written materials treating questions of faith and morals contain nothing contrary to the Church’s authentic Magisterium and comply with canonical prescriptions. This office plays a critical role in the supervisory function over the ministry of the Word within the diocese.
What are the Qualifications of Censors?
“By (Canon) law, however, all persons who are appointed as censors by the local ordinary or hierarch must be ‘outstanding in knowledge, correct doctrine, and prudence.’ They should be notably conversant in Catholic theology and morals in order that they may properly distinguish between matters of private opinion and authentic teaching. Depending upon the nature of the work that is submitted, it may also be imperative that the censor possess added expertise (such as may be required, for example, when reviewing texts pertaining to Sacred Scripture, Canon law, or the like). Additional personal characteristics may be advantageous when considering persons for appointment to the office of censor. Censors, for example, ought to be persons who are reliable and who are known to be impartial, who are respected by their peers for their probity and maturity of judgment, and who have the ability to act temperately, expediently (as a matter of justice), and out of respect for the common good.”
(From The Permission to Publish: A Resource for Diocesan and Eparchial Bishops on the Approvals Needed to Publish Various Kinds of Written Works, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2004).
Our Team
Censor
Rev. Michael J.S. Bruno, S.T.D.
Dean of Seminarians and Professor of Church History at Saint Joseph’s Seminary and College (Dunwoodie), Yonkers, New York. He holds the Doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome, Italy.
Censor
Rev. John P. Cush, S.T.D.
Director of Seminarian Admissions and Recruitment and Professor of Dogmatic Theology at Saint Joseph’s Seminary and College (Dunwoodie), Yonkers, New York. He holds the Doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, Italy.
