The Reformation's intent was mass distribution. This was now possible because of the printing press. I've been to Mainz Germany to see Gutenberg's press, and it is awesome that this invention, in the midst of this conflict, came about at just this time of supreme corruption and just this time of a courageous man willing to speak out and to translate the scripture into his native German.
God's ways are too wonderful for the mind of us finite humans.
Exactly.
Of course, once "mass distribution" had been achieved, Luther started to regret what he'd created. He wanted everyone to read the Bible allright, but he also expected they'd agree with him afterwards. :-0
I believe before this the RCC only had scribes write translations in Latin.
After the development of the printing press did the RCC print large numbers of the Bible in native tongues and distribute them to their congregants?
Guttenberg made his invention in the 1440's. Luther came along in 1517. 75+ years is a span of 3-4 generations. Not exactly simultaneous events, but then, hey, what's a little historical fact when it gets in the way of attempting to score points?