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Most are rather unfamiliar with scripture>

In all of my Catholic schooling we were discouraged from reading the Bible but were taught from the catechism daily. In fact, we had to memorize, not Scripture, but catechism questions and answers. Reading the Bible was discouraged by the nuns.

>>In fact, we had to memorize, not Scripture, but catechism questions and answers.<<

I think that’s pretty much universal to all denominations and religions from what I can tell. I grew up in Protestant church and it was pretty much the same. Typically a verse along with a lengthy statement from church “catechism”. My father was an avid Bible reader and that is where I got the inspiration to read for myself. I soon learned that what was being taught was not always agreeing with what scripture was saying.

Same here. If any Bible was spoken, it was clothed within the dogma of Catholicism. I've told of this incident before, but I'll do so again for an example. I was having breakfast with the local Catholic priest and a few relatives and we started talking about favorite verses - I think I actually brought it up. I said mine was Ephesians 2:8,9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast.". The priest looked at me and said, "That sounds Protestant to me."

He wasn't kidding around either. Here was a "man of God" and he didn't recognize the words of Scripture. We were all shocked. I realize that since this time, the Catholic Church has said Bible reading and study is good and encouraged, but I still think, like this priest did, that anything that "sounds" like it is saying something against what Catholic Church teachings say, is either not true or not "properly interpreted".