In fact, the Romanists did so in contradiction to St. Jerome-- who actually did the Latin translations and understood why the Jews rejected those books as canonical-- and much church tradition, even held by Roman Bishops, that the Apocrypha were not inspired, but only called "scripture" in the sense of being useful for edification, not doctrine. This was even noted in Biblical translations themselves for centuries, approved by Rome, distinguishing the Apocrypha from the regular canon. This is just another example of arbitrary Roman decisions which really was only decided because "they were questioned by the Reformers." Had it not been questioned, the Papists might never have made the decision.
And as for the "oral tradition" thing. I once remember a Papist telling me that even when the Church Fathers-- as early as the 1st and 2nd century-- are quoting word from word from the scripture, and even say words like "reading" or "scripture," that really they were talking about oral tradition!
The only thing that church councils did was determine what the Church was already reading. Before that time, the scripture was heavily in use. Some of my best evidence for destroying infidels who claim that the scripture was not actually written for 200 or 300 years, is by quoting Ignatius, Polycarp or Irenaeus, who quote, between themselves, the majority of the New Testament, if not all of it.
This is a bunch of bologna. The Catholic Church, for many years, forbid the common people from having Bibles. The true “church” does not have a name over it’s door. The true church is comprised of born-again believers in every denomination who are “born again.” In fact, any group which claims to be the “true church,” is probably a false one. Jesus commended Peter for the wisdom given him by the Holy Spirit when he made the statement, “thou art Christ, the Son of the Living God.” He then stated that upon this rock, I will build my church. Jesus didn’t mean the church was to be built upon Peter, but, upon the truth of who Christ claimed to be - and was. If you read other Scriptures, you will find numerous references to Christ being that ROCK, the Chief Cornerstone. The church isn’t built upon ANY man or mantle - it’s built upon the shed blood of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.