Let’s Discuss Our Church’s Bible Past

by Letters Editor · Published July 12, 2023 · Updated July 8, 2023

From Cecil Cullen, Alberton – During my school days, long ago, and well thereafter, I understood that Bible study was not encouraged by the Catholic Church, and that the laity should be instructed in scriptures through their priests. All my schooling was at Catholic institutions, and I never even saw a bible, apart from the books used at Mass. This near-fear was reinforced by the feeling I experienced when I saw a Gideon bible in a hotel room!

Things have changed. In the 1970s there was a sales campaign for Catholic bibles in my parish; I bought one from the late Fr John Brady OMI.

There seems to be a reluctance to discuss this history. Surely we should be open about our history and our beliefs, even when they are now superseded, as is evident in Pope Francis’ decree that the third Sunday in Ordinary Time is to be observed as an annual special day devoted to “the celebration, study and dissemination of the word of God”.

Letter published in the May 2023 issue of The Southern Cross magazine