For the first time all papal documents, including encyclicals, will be governed by copyright invested in the official Vatican publishing house, the Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
Milanese publishing house that had issued an anthology containing 30 lines from Pope Benedict’s speech to the conclave that elected him and an extract from his enthronement speech is reported to have been sent a bill for €15,000 (£10,000). This was made up of 15 per cent of the cover price of each copy sold plus “legal expenses” of €3,500.
Vittorio Messori, who has co-authored works with Pope Benedict and John Paul II, said that he was “perplexed and alarmed . . . This is wholly negative and absolutely disastrous for the Vatican’s image.” A pope’s words should be available to all free of charge, he said, and to “cash in in this way surrounds the clergy with the odour of money”.
Publishers will have to negotiate a levy of between 3 per cent and 5 per cent of the cover price of any book or publication “containing the Pope’s words”. Those who infringe the copyright face legal action and a higher levy of 15 per cent.
This reminds me of when the Vatican would take money in exchange for giving documents to people ensuring their place in heaven and the forgiveness of all their sins.
I’m not saying it’s the same thing, merely that it reminds me of that tragedy.
The catholic church shouldn’t be requiring money for the reprint or reuse of papal documents. It’s akin to what the Christian Scientists are doing. At least they aren’t copywriting the bible.
exactly.
or Scientologists. I didn’t know christian scientists did that.
this story still blows my mind.
when was the catholic church selling the heaven documents? i wonder when/why that practice stopped. maybe this current practice will come under similar criticism.
in 1517, the pope kicked off a capital campaign to build a grand new church in Rome.
The thousand-year-ld St. Peters was condemned and a glorious new church was planned. It would be very expensive — and Germans would foot much of the bill. To raise money, the papacy sold church offices — one young prince bought a bishopric for 10,000 ducats, based on 1000 per commandment. And the Church sold indulgences.
Indulgences were basically spiritual coupons relieving you from penalties you owed because of your sins. The Church got these merits from Jesus and the saints whose virtuous lives earned a holy warehouse of extra merits.
Papal fund-raisers came out in full force. With a fanfare of drummers and trumpeters, the super-salesmonk, John Tetzel, came to Martin Luther’s neighborhood. He offered letters of indulgence promising “full forgiveness for all sins and absolution from all punishments.” These were fully-transferable and ideal for bailing loved ones out of purgatory. Peasants lined up to buy as Tetzel’s men sang, “As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, another soul from purgatory springs.”
Incidentally, this was the last straw for Martin Luther and what spawned the Lutheran Church.
Hi Everybody, HELP! HELP! HELP!!
My husband and I are traveling to Rome in 2 weeks. While reading the travel brochures, I found that indulgences are still being sold today, in a certain building in the Vatican, on specific days. I would like to purchase an indulgence, but can not find the cost. Can anybody help me please? In need this info. Thank you. Shirley