nihil obstat

Roman Catholicism

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July 1, 2026

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In Roman Catholicism, a nihil obstat is a certification from an official censor stating that a book contains nothing contrary to faith and morals. This Latin phrase, meaning "nothing hinders," is a prerequisite for an imprimatur, which is the bishop's permission to publish. While the imprimatur implies ecclesiastical approval, it does not guarantee doctrinal integrity but rather indicates that no offense to faith or morals was found in the work. The term nihil obstat can also refer to authoritative or official approval in a broader sense.12

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imprimatur
…judgment of a censor (nihil obstat: “nothing hinders [it from being printed]”), the term has come to imply ecclesiastical approval of the publication itself. Nevertheless, the imprimatur is not an episcopal endorsement of the content, nor is it a guarantee of doctrinal integrity. It does indicate that nothing offensive…
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…judgment of a censor (nihil obstat: “nothing hinders [it from being printed]”), the term has come to imply ecclesiastical approval of the publication itself. Nevertheless, the imprimatur is not an episcopal endorsement of the content, nor is it a guarantee of doctrinal integrity. It does indicate that nothing offensive…
Read More