I doubt he knew very much about the Bible. I’ve known Catholics who said they asked their priest something about the Bible and the priest got upset at the person who asked the question. A friend, former Catholic, said he was told not to read the Bible. The church would tell what was in it when they decided he needed to know. I think this priest learned more about Islam by teaching it than he knew about Catholicism.
I don’t know what church your friend attended but I’m afraid he has sincerely misinformed you about Catholics and the Holy Bible. Several passages from the Holy Bible are read during every mass and it is the same at every Catholic Church that day across the USA. If you attend mass every day you will hear the entire Holy Bible in approximately 3 years. I am a cradle Catholic and I attended Catholic school for 9 years and was never once instructed to not read the Holy Bible.