Decree Concerning the Canonical Scriptures
Decree Concerning the Edition and Use of the Sacred Books
Moreover, the same holy council considering that not a little advantage will accrue to the Church of God if it be made known which of all the Latin editions of the sacred books now in circulation is to be regarded as authentic, ordains and declares that the old Latin Vulgate Edition, which, in use for so many hundred years, has been approved by the Church, be in public lectures, disputations, sermons and expositions held as authentic, and that no one dare or presume under any pretext whatsoever to reject it. [sic: don't disagree with the Church or else]
Furthermore, to check unbridled spirits, it decrees that no one relying on his own judgment shall, in matters of faith and morals pertaining to the edification of Christian doctrine, distorting the Holy Scriptures in accordance with his own conceptions,[5] presume to interpret them contrary to that sense which holy mother Church, to whom it belongs to judge of their true sense and interpretation,[6] has held and holds, or even contrary to the unanimous teaching of the Fathers, even though such interpretations should never at any time be published. Those who act contrary to this shall be made known by the ordinaries and punished in accordance with the penalties prescribed by the law. [sic: We'll tell you how it should be interpreted and if you disagree with us there will be consequences.]
And wishing, as is proper, to impose a restraint in this matter on printers also, who, now without restraint, thinking what pleases them is permitted them, print without the permission of ecclesiastical superiors the books of the Holy Scriptures and the notes and commentaries thereon of all persons indiscriminately, often with the name of the press omitted, often also under a fictitious press-name, and what is worse, without the name of the author, and also indiscreetly have for sale such books printed elsewhere, [this council] decrees and ordains that in the future the Holy Scriptures, especially the old Vulgate Edition, be printed in the most correct manner possible, and that it shall not be lawful for anyone to print or to have printed any books whatsoever dealing with sacred doctrinal mattes without the name of the author, or in the future to sell them, or even to have them in possession, unless they have first been examined and approved by the ordinary, under penalty of anathema and fine prescribed by the last Council of the Lateran.[7] [sic: We want the printing and distribution of Bibles stop except for those approved by the Church. If you print up a Bible you will be cursed.]
If they be regulars they must in addition to this examination and approval obtain permission also from their own superiors after these have examined the books in accordance with their own statutes. Those who lend or circulate them in manuscript before they have been examined and approved, shall be subject to the same penalties as the printers, and those who have them in their possession or read them, shall, unless they make known the authors, be themselves regarded as the authors. The approbation of such books, however, shall be given in writing and shall appear authentically at the beginning of the book, whether it be written or printed, and all this, that is, both the examination and the approbation, shall be done gratuitously, so that what ought to be approved may be approved and what ought to be condemned may be condemned. [sic: You must obtain permission.]
Furthermore, wishing to repress that boldness whereby the words and sentences of the Holy Scriptures are turned and twisted to all kinds of profane usages, namely, to things scurrilous, fabulous, vain, to flatteries, detractions, superstitions, godless and diabolical incantations, divinations, the casting of lots and defamatory libels, to put an end to such irreverence and contempt, and that no one may in the future dare use in any manner the words of Holy Scripture for these and similar purposes, it is commanded and enjoined that all people of this kind be restrained by the bishops as violators and profaners of the word of God, with the penalties of the law and other penalties that they may deem fit to impose. [sic: If you use or quote any scripture there will be consequences.]
I'll start by proclaiming that I am a Protestant. "Bible distribution" was simply not possible. Books were extremely rare and expensive. Some might think that private ownership of a bible would be selfish. The books were chained so as to allow availability not to prevent availability. Because modern libraries have security measures to prevent theft does not mean that they want to restrict or prevent knowledge?
You can understand the concern of authorities that some uneducated people might misuse parts of the bible. Look at some of the stupid things that the puritans did -- smashed stained glass windows, destroyed artwork, ran through the streets naked, all justified by their reading of the bible. The uncontrolled interpretation of scripture by individuals has created a Protestant church that is fractured into a very large number of groups. The fracturing seems to continue daily. That hardly seems like success.
Harley, c'mon. You can read plain English. Your last paragraph from Trent says the it is those who would "turn and twist," for "profane usages," that are "scurrilous, fabulous, vain, to flatteries, detractions, etc." Further down in the paragraph, it says plainly that "all people of this kind be restrained" from disseminating false versions of Scripture. "This kind" refers to those who prduce the works just described. It's plain English, as you have it posted here.
Do you suppose that the Established Church in England was any less diligent in making sure that the Douai-Rheims Bible was expunged from existence, as much as possible? Mere possession risked the death penalty. BOTH Protestants and Catholics, in the time period we're discussing, were pretty zealous in making sure the "wrong" Bible was kept out of circulation.
The Council of Trent had every reason to desire to control spurious translations. Many circulating at the time were barely more than platforms for polemic, so bad were the translations. But, in any event, the Catholic Church, having seen its early sons write the New Testament, understands itself to have been the discerner, compiler, vetter, canonizer AND sole legitimate interpreter of Scripture. It has every right, as the Bible's true custodian, to undertake the safeguarding of its contents. Especially in the sectarian maelstrom that was mid-1500's Europe.
Harley,
Get a clue. Nothing that you posted in any way goes against what I said:
Your first point has exactly nothing to do with Martin Luther's myth.
Your second point also has absolutely nothing to do with Martin Luther's myth.
Your third point doesn't say what you claim. Catholic printers printed many Bibles. They just need the usual nihil obstat and imprimatur marks to do it. The decrees of Trent in no way stopped orthodox Bible production. If it did then you would have a heck of a time explaining how the Douay-Rheim was published in 1582/1609 AFTER TRENT. Also, in case you didn't know (and why would you know anything about what you are talking?), anathema is a canonical term when used in a decree. It doesn't mean accursed when used in a decree. All Trent era anathemas were lifted in the 1960's by the way. You didn't know that did you? No, of course not.
Your fourth point also proves nothing about Martin Luther and his myth.
Your fifth point shows you to be either dumb or dishonest. Read the underlined passages again. Notice the phrase "for these and similar purposes"? What were those purposes? Well, they're listed a few lines above: "whereby the words and sentences of the Holy Scriptures are turned and twisted to all kinds of profane usages, namely, to things scurrilous, fabulous, vain, to flatteries, detractions, superstitions, godless and diabolical incantations, divinations, the casting of lots and defamatory libels, to put an end to such irreverence and contempt."
So the Church didn't want people to abuse scripture for their own illegitimate purposes? Oh, the humanity!