Get Preliminary Application For Introduction Of A Marriage - Arlingtondiocese

The purpose of the Nihil Obstat is to confirm that all the steps required by the Catholic Church for a valid marriage are met by both parties prior to the wedding ceremony.

Nihil obstat (Latin for "nothing hinders" or "nothing stands in the way") is a phrase traditionally used by Catholic Church authorities to formally declare that there is no objection to the publication of a book, or to some other proposed action.

The Latin phrase nihil obstat literally means “nothing obstructs.” It only can be granted by an appointed reader or censor from the Church and indicates that there is no reason on the basis of theological or moral grounds that a work cannot be printed.

If the censor deputatus finds no doctrinal error in the work, he grants a nihil obstat attesting to this. Translated as “nothing stands in the way,” the nihil obstat indicates that the manuscript can be safely forwarded to the bishop for his review and decision.

Strictly speaking, the imprimatur is nothing more than the permission. But because its concession must be preceded by the favourable judgment of a censor (nihil obstat: “nothing hinders [it from being printed]”), the term has come to imply ecclesiastical approval of the publication itself.