Even if these could be drawn up, it would be more and more difficult to enforce them or to keep the rules abreast of the requirements of each publishing season.

In reading, as in conduct, each one must bear more and more of their own personal responsibility, and unless the law is within themselves there is no possibility of enforcing it.
The present Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, when rector of St.
John's Seminary, Wonersh, used to lay down the following rules for his students, and on condition of their adhering to these rules he allowed them great freedom in their reading, but if they were disregarded, it was understood that the rector took no responsibility about the books they read:-- 1.

"Be perfectly conscientious, and if you find a book is doing you harm stop reading it at once.

If you know you cannot stop you must be most careful not to read anything you don't know about." 2.

"Be perfectly frank with your confessor and other superiors.