LTO vas EDITOR OF THE " sesarATorol SIR,—Mr. Cave attaches
too much importance to the imprimatur when he assumes that it means that a book is sanctioned by the Catholic Church (see Spectator of Apri111th). Such is not the case at all. The imprimatur simply means that the local Bishop in whose diocese the book is printed, or where the author lives, certifies through the censor appointed by him that the book contains no error. This is only a general guarantee to the reader, and is compatible with the fact that the book does contain error, as I have seen in more than one case. It is a guarantee of soundness so far as it goes, and it is certainly not supposed to go so far as Mr. Cave
imagines. The Bishop does not read the book himself. He takes the report of the censor, who may be a man of moderate learning. The chief value is that the author submits his work to the Church.—I am, Sir, Sec., P.
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