There is, without a doubt, a long-standing custom among lay Catholics to refrain from reading the Bible.This lack of reading was a logical consequence of the fact that the great majority of ordinary Catholics at the time of the Protestant Reformation were illiterate.Prior to this, the Protestant Reformation.In addition, the only Bibles that were accessible were written in Latin, rather than the languages that were commonly spoken at the time.

Why should Catholics read the Bible?

If more of us took the reading of the Bible seriously, not only would our individual Catholic lives, but also the life of our Church, be vastly better.There should be a greater number of biblical academics serving as Catholic pastors.We require a greater number of homilies that are founded on a thorough comprehension of the biblical text.More materials should be made available for individual Bible study.

Is it forbidden for Catholics to read the Bible?

It is true that in many Catholic societies earlier in this century, individuals were not encouraged to study their Bibles. However, this was not the case in all Catholic communities. This attempt to discourage was inappropriate. Reading the Bible was never a punishable offense in any culture.

Were Catholics not allowed to read their Bibles in the 1930s?

To have a better understanding of the allegation that Catholics weren’t permitted to read their Bibles from the 1930s until the 1970s, our team has conducted interviews with dozens of older Catholics, as well as former Catholics and those who have since joined Evangelical Churches.It is true that in many Catholic societies earlier in this century, individuals were not encouraged to study their Bibles.However, this was not the case in all Catholic communities.

Can you read the Bible without a priest?

The priest who presided over my First Communion made it quite plain to all of us that ordinary people are incapable of understanding the Bible, and that as a result, reading it on one’s own without the guidance of a priest might be misleading or even destructive.It should come as no surprise that I am referring to an Italian setting; the rules for the teaching of the Catechism are decided upon by the Council of Italian Bishops.