THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE BIBLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23578, 15 August 1938, Page 15

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE BIBLE

TO THE EDITOR Sir,—“Calvin’s” “crowing” has subsided considerably in his latest letter. Possibly he has taken the troublesomewhat belatedly—to look up a Catechism of the Council of Trent for himself, and, perhaps, even to inquire of some Catholic child what is meant by “ anathema ” and by ‘ .the bacrament of Penance.” In any case, he is now content to drop these matters, even though they loomed so large in his previous letter. He is also content to leave his readers without any explanation whatever of how the word for “ altar ” came to be translated “temple” in two passages and in M editions of one of the most famous ox early Protestant Bibles, viz., the Great Bible, and of how the word for idol came to be translated “ image in the Bibles of Tyndale and Coverdale. Knowing that there is no alternative explanation to the one I give, _ Calvin ” is content to remumole his original “reply,” viz., that, “temple is not a perversion where it does occur, because there are some places where it does not occur, and that ‘ eidolon did mean “image” in the texts in question, because there are some places m Greek literature where it can mean “image.” , , ... Before speaking of the Church s attitude to the Bible at the present day, may I suggest to “ Calvin ” that the “few gems from a French Romanist Testament of 1686 ” would be far precious in his readers’, eyes, if he were to tell us who precisely was responsible for this particular translation, and how he knows that it is not on the Index of Prohibited Books. I know that it is not in accordance with “ Calvin’s ”• usual custom to give his references at all. Possibly he feels that the few bigots for whom he writes are satisfied provided his letters are full of charges against the Catholic Church, and more than satisfied. if a sprinkling of these charges are within inverted commas. But I must confess that I am not satisfied—nor, I am sure are the majority of his readers —when “Calvin” exclaims: “Says von Dobschutz, etc.,” or “About 1255 St. Thomas Aquinas wrote —, etc.,” or “ Roger Bacon is another authority,” or “Archbishop Hamilton (said) —, etc.,” and yet gives not the slightest indication of where these testimonies can be found. “Calvin” has more than once taken it upon himself to disqualify me as a serious controversialist; he himself recklessly ignores every elementary rule of controversy. It may surprise some of your readers —who nave perhaps been taught that the Catholic Church is afraid of the Bible falling into the hands of the people—to learn that the following are the words of a modern Catholic Pope: The work of opening a way into every Christian household for the books of the Holy Gospels is one to which assuredly the highest possible praise is due. ... It was with no little gladness of heart that the Holy Father learned of the work of the society and of its diligence in spreading far and wide copies of the Holy Gospels, as well as of other books of the Holy Scriptures, ana in multiplying them so as to reach all men of good will. (Letter of Pope Benedict XV to Cardinal Bourne, president of the Catholic Truth Society, March 2. 1915.)

And in case it be said that this encouragement on the part of the Holy See was reserved for the twentieth century, this is what Pope Pius VI wrote in 1778; —

You judge wisely that the faithful should be encouraged to read the Holy Scriptures, for these are inexhaustible fountains which ought to be left open for everyone to draw from them purity of morals and of doctrine, and to eradicate the errors which are so widely spread in these corrupt times. This you have seasonably effected by publishing the sacred writings in the language of your country suitable to everyone’s capacity. (Letter to the Bishop of Florence, 1778.) Similarly in 1820 Pope Pius VII urged the English bishops “to encourage their people to read the Holy Scriptures; for nothing can be more useful, more consolatory, and more animating; because they serve to confirm the faith, to support the hope, and to inflame the charity of the true Christian.” , . * Pope Leo XIII did much to promote the reading of the Holy Scriptures. He founded a “ Congregation for the advancement of biblical studies, and addressed a letter to the whole Church on the reading and study of Holy Writ, in which he says: “The solicitude of the Apostolic office naturaly urges, and even compels us, to desire that this grand source of Catholic revelation (the Bible) should be made safely and abundantl; accessible to the flock of Jesus Christ.” (“ Providentissimus Deus,” Nov. 18, 1893.) This same Pope even granted a special indulgence to all who should devoutly read the Bible daily. The Catholic bishops of America, urging their laity to read and study the Bible, say:—

It can hardly be necessary to remind you, beloved brethren, that the most highly-valued treasure of every family library, and the most frequently and lovingly made use of, should be the Holy Scriptures. ... We trust that no family can be found amongst us without a correct version of the Holy Scriptures. (Pastoral Letter addressed from Baltimore to the Catholic laity of America, 1884.)

Cardinal Gibbons, in his book, “The Faith of Our Fathers” (p. 94), after describing the course of studies on the Holy Scriptures undertaken by those who are preparing for the priesthood in the Catholic Church, says:— After his ordination every priest is obliged in conscience to devote upwards of an hour each day to the perusal of the V r ora of God. I am not aware that clergymen of other denominations are bound by the same duty. What is good for the clergy must be good, also, for the laity. Be assured that if you become a Catholic you will never be forbidden to read the Bible. It is our earnest wish that every word of the Gospel may be imprinted on your memory ind on your heart.

These testimonies are but a tiny fraction of those that could be cited to show that the Catholic Church, instead

of keeping the Bible from her people, strongly urges them to read and meditate upon the sacred writings. But they are sufficient for my purpose. And I have enough confidence in the good faith and intelligence of the majority of my readers to think that, when it is a question of judging the Catholic Church in this matter, they will prefer these testimonies to the bigoted ravings of “ Calvin.”—l am, etc., - . F. Bennett. Mosgiel,'August 13.