Many people are unaware of the fact that there was a long period of time, when the Catholic Church forbid the reading of the Bibles.

Not only did she forbid the reading of the Bible, but she also forbid having posession of a Bible in one’s own home.

These were called the “Dark Ages” for obvious reasons. The Apostate Church of Christendom was at the peak of her power, and was afraid that if her subjects owned and read Bibles, that they might question some of the Church’s actions and teachings.

 

“Canon 14. We prohibit also that the laity should not be permitted to have the books of the Old or New Testament; we most strictly forbid their having any translation of these books.” – The Church Council of Toulouse 1229 AD Source: Heresy and Authority in Medieval Europe, Scolar Press, London, England copyright 1980 by Edward Peters, ISBN 0-85967-621-8, pp. 194-195

 

The Council of Tarragona of 1234, in its second canon, ruled that:

“No one may possess the books of the Old and New Testaments, and if anyone possesses them he must turn them over to the local bishop within eight days, so that they may be burned…” – The Church Council of Tarragona 1234 AD; 2nd Cannon – Source : D. Lortsch, Historie de la Bible en France, 1910, p.14.

 

“Opened on Thursday alongside the Inquisition archives was the infamous Index of Forbidden Books, which Roman Catholics were forbidden to read or possess on pain of excommunication. They showed that even “the Bible” was once on the blacklist. Translations of the holy book ended up on the bonfires along with other “heretical” works…The Index of Forbidden Books and all excommunications relating to it were officially abolished in 1966. The Inquisition itself was established by Pope Gregory IX in 1233….” -Vatican archives reveal Bible was once banned book By Jude Webber ROME, Jan 22, 1998 (Reuters)

 

“Canon 14. We prohibit also that the laity should be permitted to have the books of the Old or New Testament; …we most strictly forbid their having any translation of these books.”– ITEM #2 COUNCIL OF TOULOUSE – 1229 A.D. Heresy and Authority in Medieval Europe, Edited with an introduction by Edward Peters, Scolar Press, London, copyright 1980 by Edward Peters, ISBN 0-85967-621-8, pp. 194-195

 

ITEM #3 THE COUNCIL OF TARRAGONA – 1234 A.D. The Council of Tarragona of 1234, in its second canon, ruled that:

“No one may possess the books of the Old and New Testaments in the Romance language, and if anyone possesses them he must turn them over to the local bishop within eight days after promulgation of this decree, so that they may be burned….” – D. Lortsch, Historie de la Bible en France, 1910, p.14.

 

Pope Pius IV had a list of the forbidden books compiled and officially prohibited them in the Index of Trent (Index Librorum Prohibitorum) of 1559. This is an excerpt :

“Whoever reads or has such a translation in his possession… cannot be absolved from his sins

until he has turned in these Bibles…Books in the vernacular dealing with the controversies between Catholics and the heretics of our time are not to be generally permitted, but are to be handled in the same way as Bible translations…” – Rule IV & Rule VI Die Indices Librorum Prohibitorum des sechzehnten Jahrhunderts (Tübingen, 1886), page 246f. Source: The Reformation, by Hans J. Hillerbrand, copyright 1964 by SCM Press Ltd and Harper and Row,Inc., Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 64-15480, pages 474, 475.

 

History’s Most Indestructable Book

Many dictators have attempted to wipe the Bible from existence. Yet it has withstood all these attacks, remaining the most popular book in the world. Unfortunately, this ultimately led to persecution again as the church of Rome quickly became a powerful political force, used to control public opinion and political ambitions.

The Bible continued to be attacked, now from within the Catholic Church. Bibles in common languages such as HEBREW were outlawed. The Latin Vulgate Bible was then produced and carefully controlled, readable only by specially trained representatives of the church. Laws were issued making it illegal for any believers to possess a Bible. Penalties included burning at the stake. During the Dark Ages even priests were unable to read the Scriptures for themselves. As a result, they were unable to compare the false doctrines sweeping through the Roman church against the doctrines of the Word of Al-Shadi Yahawah. In Italy, it was still illegal to own a Bible until 1870!

Political ambitions led to such crimes as the Crusader Wars, purported to be in the name of Christ but having no relationship with any spiritual doctrine. Religion was primarily an excuse used to give them credibility. Since the people had no Bibles to check such things for themselves, they were at the mercy of the corrupt religiious leaders behind these efforts.

 

“The Roman Catholic Church has traditionally suppressed, opposed, and forbidden the open use of the Bible. It was first officially forbidden to the people and placed on the index of Forbidden Books List by the Council of Valencia in 1229 A.D. The Council of Trent (1545-63 A.D.) also prohibited its use and pronounced a curse upon anyone who would dare oppose this decree. Many popes have issued decrees forbidding Bible reading in the common language of the people, condemning Bible societies and banning its possession and translation under penalty of mortal sin and death. The Roman Catholic Church has openly burned Bibles and those who translated it or promoted its study, reading, and use.

 

(John Hus, 1415 A.D.; William Tyndale, 1536 A.D.)” -Christian Equippers International, 2941 Lake Tahoe Blvd, South Lake Tahoe 96150

1525: Six thousand copies of William Tyndale’s English translation of the New Testament were

printed in Cologne, Germany, and smuggled into England—and then burned by the English church.

 

“Tyndale wrote that the Church authorities banned translation into the mother tongue “to keep the world still in darkness, to the intent they might sit through vain superstition and false doctrine, to satisfy their filthy lusts, their proud ambition, and insatiable covetousness, and to exalt their own honour… above Almighty Yahawah himself.” “ –William Tyndale’s New Testament. Worms (Germany), 1526 British Library C.188.a.17 Copyright © The British Library Board ONLINE GALLERY LANDMARKS IN PRINTING