Church's stance on Pensées

[Major]

I am not really sure to which category I should put this question.
Does anyone knows how one should approach Pensées by Blais Pascal?
On one hand the book is praised by some speakers, certainly not from “modern branch” (Peter Kreeft for example) on the other it was put on the Index during Jansenist controversy and stayed there until now. While not binding for us anymore “the Index maintained its moral force, in that it taught Christians to beware (…), of those writings that could endanger faith and morality” (as Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith stated).

I have strong feeling that nowadays just no-one cares to reevaluate books in the index as no-one pays any attention to it, but maybe there is some good reason for Pensées to be approached with caution.

 

[BartholomewB]

What were the Church’s reasons for putting it on the Index? Was it something in the book itself, or was it just that there were powerful prelates who bore a grudge against Pascal because he had supported the losing side in the quarrel between the Jansenists and the Jesuits?

I can’t claim to have read every single one of the 781 numbered Pensées (in the Le Guern edition) but I have yet to find a single statement, a single opinion, that a Catholic might object to. What have you found? Let’s check it out.

 

[tafan2]

I consider the Pensees as one of my most valuable books on my book shelf. I have read it in it’s entirety, and thing it is very good.
As for it’s being in the index, I have never taken the time to look into that. I do not consider Pascal a Jansenist, but his close association with them and his o going battle with the Jesuits may be one cause.