[MayflowerMadam]

“One of the biggest issues I’ve notice amongst our Roman Catholic posters is the lack of understanding on how to interpret the Bible in context.”

True. But in all fairness, I recall when I was younger, in the ‘50s and ‘60s, the R.C. families I knew said their church forbade them from reading the Bible. (I don’t think it’s that way any more.)

My dad was a pastor in a small town, and was friendly with the Catholic priest down the street. Once he asked the priest why that was. The response was basically, “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. WE will tell you what to think and believe.” If members read/knew the Truth, it would be dangerous.

[ealgeone]

Your observation corresponds with what the USCCB notes that it wasn't until the 1940s that Roman Catholics were actively encouraged to read the Bible.

I think many RC priests are worried they would not be able to answer the questions of their members if they were to actually read the texts for themselves.

I offer the below for consideration.

Identifying the reading and interpreting of the Bible as “Protestant” even affected the study of Scripture. Until the twentieth Century, it was only Protestants who actively embraced Scripture study. That changed after 1943 when Pope Pius XII issued the encyclical Divino Afflante Spiritu. This not only allowed Catholics to study Scripture, it encouraged them to do so. And with Catholics studying Scripture and teaching other Catholics about what they were studying, familiarity with Scripture grew.http://www.usccb.org/bible/understanding-the-bible/study-materials/articles/changes-in-catholic-attitudes-toward-bible-readings.cfm

[metmom]

True. But in all fairness, I recall when I was younger, in the ‘50s and ‘60s, the R.C. families I knew said their church forbade them from reading the Bible. (I don’t think it’s that way any more.)

That is my experience also, but sometimes I'd sneak our Catholic Bible out and try to read it anyways. But it never made any sense. I had NO CLUE where to even start. I probably started in Numbers for all I know.

Regardless, when I relate that expeirne3ce, I m told I'm lying, that the Catholic church never forbade the reading of Scripture. So be ready for someone to accuse you of that.

Interesting thing is, so many former Catholics recall being told that and we all came from different parts of the country and we all remember the same thing, that it takes it out of the realm of*You're lying* or *You misunderstood*.

[cherry]

No one ever told anybody in my large Catholic family nor the large Catholic grammar school and HS and nursing school I attended to not read the bible...

[Elsie]

The response was basically, “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

It is STILL that way.

But they sure are mouthy when it comes to judging Dear Leader.