Battle of the Bibles - Present Truth

Chapter Twenty-Four
Interconfessional Bibles and Ecumenism
The World Catholic Federation for Biblical Apostolate (WCFBA), is a Roman
Catholic organisation formed solely for the purpose of promoting ecumenism through
participation in the translation of interconfessional Bibles. But it does seem that the
Vatican is quite happy to let so-called Protestant organisations such as the Bible
Societies bear the brunt of the cost of production and distribution of these Bibles.
As an example, an examination of the Bible Society's (New South Wales,
Australia) report on donations received from denominations during the 1990/1991
financial year is revealing. Of the seventeen contributing denominations listed, by far the
strongest supporter was the Anglican Church ($129,864.00). This probably reflects the
continuing ties with the British and Foreign Bible Society, in spite of the relatively recent
name change to "The Bible Society in Australia". But the Roman Catholic Church's
contribution during that year was a mere ~, $917.00! This compared unfavourably
with one of the smaller Protestant churches - The Seventh-day Adventist Church, which
gave $4,045.00. 18.
(18 -Evidently the SDA's admiration for the Bible Society's ecumenical role and
the type of Bibles being sold, has now increased considerably. A report on Page 11 of
the SDA's March 13, 1993 issue of "The Record" carries a report containing the gratitude
expressed by the NSW Director of the Bible Society in Australia for the SDA's
magnificent contribution during the year of 1992 which amounted to $24,148.00!)
Although insignificant in monetary terms, the fact that Rome is contributed
anything at all is highly significant, and is indicative of her perception of success in
changing the original purpose of the British and Foreign Bible Society.
Rome's previous attitude to the Society's Protestant Version of the Bible was
revealed by Pope Pius X when in 1911 his prescribed "Larger Catechism" stated:
"If a Christian should be offered a Bible by a Protestant, or by some emissary of
the Protestants, he ought to reject it with horror, because it is forbidden by the Church;
and if he should have accepted it without noticing what it was, he should at once pitch it
into the fire, or fetch it to his Pastor" (Cited, "The Word of God Among All Nations", p
121).
The reason for such drastic behaviour is explained by Rome while stating her
hostility toward the Bible Societies:
"The attitude of the Church toward the Bible Societies is one of unmistakable
opposition. Believing herself to be the divinely appointed custodian and interpreter of
Holy Writ she cannot, without turning traitor to herself, approve the distribution of
Scripture without note or comment" ("The Catholic Encyclopedia", Vol. II, p 545).
The obvious implication of such a radical change in attitude is that the Roman
Catholic Church no longer regards the Bible Societies as an effective instrument of
Protestantism. No doubt it is joyfully aware that, throughout Australia at least, the value
of the Protestant King James Versions sold (1990/1991) has shrunk to a paltry 9.9
percent of total sales (Source, "Bible Society in Australia", May 27, 1992).
Architects of this successful capture of Bible Societies which come under the
umbrella of the United Bible Society, such as Monsignor Alberto Ablondi, must
experience smug satisfaction with the results. Back in 1984, while Bishop of Livorno,
Italy, he was a member of the General Committee and European Regional Executive
Committee of the UBS. Undoubtedly his influence on the Societies helped to shape their
present-day policies. He views the interconfessional translations of the Bible as:
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