One hundred years ago, Benedict X. Was Pope. As Cardinal he went around Rome giving out copies of Scriptures and encouraging people to read Scriptures. Did you know that for a very long time sthics have been able to get an indulgence for reading Scriptures for a half hour? Not exactly the same thing excommunication
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Benedict X was not the bishop of the local diocease, who as usual had his own set of rules.
Until the ‘60s that was the way it was all over the world.
Wide spread use of radio and television changed the world.
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And Chrysostom attached considerable importance to the reading of Scripture on the part of the laity and denounced the error that it was to be permitted only to monks and priests (De Lazaro concio, iii, MPG, xlviii, 992; Hom. ii in Matt., MPG, lvii, 30, NPNF, 2d ser., x, 13). He insisted upon access being given to the entire Bible, or at least to the New Testament (Hom. ix in Col., MPG, lxii, 361, NPNF, xiii, 301). The women also, who were always at home, were diligently to read the Bible (Hom. xxxv on Gen. xii, MPG, liii, 323). Jerome recommended the reading and studying of Scripture on the part of the women (Epist., cxxviii, 3, MPL, xxii, 1098, NPNF, 2d ser., vi, 259; Epist., lxxix, 9, MPG, xxii, 730-731, NPNF, 2d ser., vi, 167). This was the case even without a printing press and less literacy in general. The translations of the Bible, Augustine considered a blessed means of propagating the Word of God among the nations (De doctr. christ., ii, 5, NPNF, 1st ser., ii, 536); Gregory I recommended the reading of the Bible without placing any limitations on it (Hom. iii in Ezek., MPL, lxxvi, 968). — New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia
How much different history could have been if that had been the norm and reality thru all the centuries, but the reality is that Rome did in fact hinder personal Bible reading , thinking free access did more harm than good. And unlike the Puritans.required schooling in order that the laity may able to read Scripture was not a manifest priority.