Nihil obstat
Nothing stands in the way.
Nihil obstat is a Latin term meaning “nothing stands in the way” and denotes a formal declaration that no objections exist to a given act or publication.
Nihil obstat is a Latin expression that literally means “nothing stands in the way.” In a legal context, it denotes an official approval or declaration that no legal, moral or ecclesiastical objections exist to a given matter, such as a publication or appointment.
The term is employed chiefly in the canon law of the Roman Catholic Church, where a nihil obstat is frequently required before a work of religious content may be published. In the Netherlands, the expression occurs in ecclesiastical proceedings and occasionally in international or church-related legal contexts.
In practice, a nihil obstat is issued by a competent authority, such as a bishop or other ecclesiastical body, to confirm that the content is not contrary to the doctrine of the faith or applicable rules.
“The author submitted a request for a nihil obstat prior to publication of the theological manuscript.”
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