text: The church has practiced censorship pretty much throughout its entire history.  What were the heretic burnings but an extreme form of censorship?   Even before Pius IX sent home opposing bishops in order to get his declaration of "infallibility" through the Council, the church  censored and persecuted "dissenters" to varying degrees. Fortunately, heretic burning is no longer permitted, but silencing is a favorite weapon.  JPII and Benedict were notorious for silencing theologians, priests, and vowed religious for speaking out against teachings of the church.   Since church officials have set the example, is it surprising that the extremists in the pews have followed?   Ironic that a church that claims to be the sole source of "Truth" in the world is so afraid of discovering that perhaps it does not really channel God's mind, that the Pope is not infallible nor is the magisterium - ordinary or otherwise. A true openness to truth would mean listening to dissent, not silencing it.