Non-Catholic Christian; were you taught that the Catholic Church discourages reading the Bible? Who said so?

1) Non-Catholic Christian; were you taught that the Catholic Church discourages reading the Bible?

No - though I have read that here.

2) Who said so?

Someone misinformed.

I think it arises from the policy of the Roman Catholic Church during the Protestant Reformation of suppressing Protestant bibles. What my fellow Protestants have failed to learn is that

a) the Roman Catholic Church had approved several common language bibles before the onset of the Protestant Reformation - though, admittedly, they were slow in providing such throughout Europe (most appeared in Italy in various dialects)

b) the Roman Catholic Church only suppressed the owning or production of non-approved bibles

c) many Protestant churches *similarly* suppressed the owning or production of non-approved bibles, as is seen in the production of the first English Roman Catholic bible (delayed more than 20 years by Protestants)

Now, for as long as it has been an issue (that is, since the Protestant Reformation, if not longer), the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) has objected to the private interpretation of Scripture, and demanded that its followers *live* according to the RCC's official interpretation. However, clearly they *permitted* the expression and defense of private interpretations - as seen, for example, in allowing Luther to debate others about the matter. They certainly did suppress the *promotion* of private interpretation as if it were valid, though. In other words, they took measures to suppress anyone claiming that his private interpretation was correct and the RCC's faulty.

Jim, http://www.christianwebprogramming.com/br/

I grew up protestant and was taught a lot of very negative things about the Catholic church. BUT... I have friends that are Catholic and have no doubt they are Christians, some even better Christians than my protestant friends. I will say though that for the most part, the Catholics that I know (I grew up in a predominantly Catholic neighborhood) have very little knowledge of the Holy Bible. Rather than turning to the Word for wisdom and knowledge, they tend to turn to their church, to the priest for confession, and to the prayers and such that they memorized growing up. Regardless of what Christian religion you follow, the most important thing is to know that Christ was God, came to earth to die on the cross for your sins, and was raised from the dead three days later. There is no salvation without this faith in Him. Whether your Catholic, Baptist, Lutheran, whatever, that's the most important thing.

Whether Catholicism teaches not to read your Bible, that may have been true at one point in history, but I can't see this as being true today.

I was never taught that I should not read the Bible as a Catholic ..I was always taught to seek help in understanding it ..now I know why...reading yourself as the Authority of the meaning will lead you away from the truth...and ultimately into protestantism...

Protestants do have a love of scripture that We Catholics could learn to be better at..But in our mass we have the complete Bible, Liturgy, Body and Blood given by the Bread of life, The Entire mass is Biblical ..except for the Homily by the Priest..he uses his own Words ..But he explains what we have just read , in the first and second reading..and most important ..the Gospel ..However ..the Altar, The Ordained Priest, everything the catholic Church teaches it's people is So more Biblical than any Protestant Church can offer..Our Practice is as old as Jewish tradition Given by God to Moses ..Temple -Church -Altar- altar, Holy of Holies in the Temple Housed the Ark of the Covenant containing the Presence of Gods Word , the Sanctuary in the Catholic Church contains the Tabernacle which Contains the Word of God ...Jesus ...the Word Made Flesh..We are taught that the true presence of Jesus can be found in the Eucharist ...it's not just symbolic....all Bible Alone protestants who are "" Experts"" in scripture because they are aloud to read the Bible...Can't see this or believe it....Jesus said ..You must eat MY FLESH and drink MY BLOOD to have eternal life ...we believe it is him in the Eucharist....Why read the Bible if you are not going to get it Right. But the Church does not teach us to stay away from the Bible.

you relatively have performed your study, attaboy (and that i relatively imply it, i've a significant face on, in the event you cant see it). Morals are outlined by way of the days, what used to be well then is dangerous now and vice-versa. the principal factor is to seem past the main points in leviticus and deutoronomy and attention at the principal stuff, like the decision for charity, cleanliness, peace, and justice. I consider the Christian gospels are the first-class at speaking the ones abstracts that obtained confuzzled by way of the mistranslations and the replacing occasions. Dont disregard that the OT used to be written for a institution of nomads unfold for the period of the Fertile Crescent. there used to be a way of order and strictness that needed to be situated. seeking to observe them to society this present day is like seeking to are compatible an american plug in a eu outlet, or diesel in a petroleum engine. Most of the legislation again then have been made to keep the society and preserve persons satisfactory (as in form) and healthful. In truth, some of the legislation, whilst excited by a grain of salt, fit the ones morals you have got. The factor I'm seeking to make is that the faith is well at its middle, however its been blanketed with all of the muck from its beyond. If you'll seem beyond that, you'll see how well it's.

It doesn't happen currently, but in the middle ages and inquistion that was the practice. Anyone found with a bible in those days was deemed a heretic. During the middle ages the catholic church tried to keep the hands out of people and with the invention of the priniting press of course they lost that battle. As we know the bible was the first book ever printed.

God Bless

Never happened to me either. At my confirmation, the bishop gave all of us a bible as a gift. He put his money where his mouth was!

I think the confusion lies in encouragement to be guided by the teaching of the church. Nothing wrong with that. I think scriptures should be read prayerfully. The mass is loaded with scripture. In fact, compare a Sunday mass with non-catholic Sunday service. You will get a whole lot more scripture if you compare minute to minute. I challenge anyone to compare! Go to a mass or read a mass book. It is chock full.

I wasn't taught that but I do see that the Roman Catholic Church had made its traditions superior in authority to the Bible.

and though I have never been to a mass,I watched them on tv a few times out of curiosity and I couldn't help but notice that no one had a bible with them.

The Word of God is the only authority for the Christian faith. Traditions are valid only when they are based on Scripture and are in full agreement with Scripture. Traditions that contradict the Bible are not of God and are not a valid aspect of the Christian faith.

I was never taught that. I attend a Catholic school now and they definitely encourage reading the Bible. I do disagree with many of their Biblical interpretations though.

I am a baptist, not a Catholic, but I don't think they necessarily believe that, however, I do know for a fact, or almost certain, that they have added to the Bible, in the form of their Man-Made Catechism. Catholicism, I believe teaches that salvation= Faith+works+baptism. Real Christianity= Faith alone and that works are the evidence of salvation, not the other way around. So I do not believe that Catholics are Christians, at least ones who follow the false teaching of salvation.

I was raised in a Protestant, Christian home and was not taught anything negative about anyone else's beliefs.

I had friends from various religions and was allowed to visit their churches with them. I was encouraged to ask my parents questions and was given straightforward answers.