Posted by Jaypeeto on March 21, 1999 at 10:56:19 {MWfZlKV6ncg82}:
In Reply to: **Written to Catholics or JWs? posted by J.H. on March 21, 1999 at 07:35:06:
I don't have my source books with me here (shame on me), but my Catholic encyclopedias do acknowledge that unauthorized translations into the vernacular were denounced in the late middle ages, partly in response to Cathar
versions.
The "chained bibles" that the Jack Chicks seem to harp on, were extremely expensive and extremely time-consuming to make, were made by hand (the days before printing presses), and were kept chained to tables in churches to prevent their theft, which church-houses were open 24 hours a day, for people who could read, to read the scriptures. Outside of the cities, most people worked the land and had little, if any, time to learn to read. Those who did, could read in Latin.
Jaypeeto :)