I stand corrected and as I recall from RCIA meetings this was my mistake and not a claim of the Church. If one goes to Mass everyday (except of course on Good Friday when there is no Mass but there are Bible readings) for three years I believe that one will hear 71-75% of the Bible. Some of the readings are heard more frequently but I believe that this only counts them once. And yes, it does include the begats. I’m guessing that some of the more obscure passages of Deut are not included. Catholics of course do have the complete canon which is a whole other debate.
I do read the daily readings whether I make it to Mass every day or not.
I have read the entire Bible three times and now do weekly Bible study at my parish. Right now we’re doing a pretty exhaustive study of Galatians. In the course of studying Galatians we’ve spent a lot of time in Genesis and Isaiah.
So is the debate whether Catholics read/believe in/the Bible? I can only speak for myself as to whether Catholics read the Bible. The Catechism certainly calls all Catholics to believe in scripture as the foundation of our faith.
Metmom on another response implied that Catholics don’t read the Bible and that may be her experience. I know people who are nominally Protestant who don’t know or read the Bible but I don’t find it to be charitable to have debates with them or challenge them about it. I know that there was a time in my life when I didn’t consider the Bible to be part of my journey just as I didn’t believe that going to Mass was part of my journey. Now I can’t imagine life without both. I get up every morning giving my life anew to Jesus. That’s how I roll. :-D
What are you learning in your study of Galatians?
I recently completed an 8 week overview of the Bible by Jeff Cavins, in which I learned many things. We will be starting a 24 part course in the fall that will go into greater detail. I am really looking forward to that.
I have met precious few Catholics in my life that read the Bible on thier own.
And to be fair, there are plenty of PRotestants and Evangelicals who don’t read Scripture all that diligently, although in every non-Catholic church I’ve attended it’s always encouraged.
But the point is, the RCC is not superior simply because a greater number of verses is read at a mass than might be in a non- Catholic service.
Nor does it really mean that Catholics get more Scripture cause based on church attendance by most Catholics, they are losing out big time.
Weddings, funerals, Christmas and Easter does not cut it.