Catholic Bishops’ Conference selects Interconfessional Common Language Bible for web site

ROME, Italy — The decision by the Italian Catholic Bishops’ Conference to make the Interconfessional Common Language Bible available online through its web site is “a small but meaningful event” for the Bible Society in Italy, according to General Secretary Dr Valdo Bertalot.

High esteem

The fact that this translation is the only one featured on the site (www.chiesacattolica.it) other than the Bishops’ Conference’s own is a clear reflection of the high esteem in which it is held and of the positive nature of co-operation between the confessions.

Setting this development in a broader context, Dr Phil Noss, United Bible Societies (UBS) Translation Services Coordinator, refers to the Guidelines for Interconfessional Cooperation in Translating the Bible which were published jointly by the Vatican and UBS in 1968. This document came three years after the Vatican issued the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation (Dei Verbum), calling for the widespread translation and use of the Scriptures in vernacular languages. It has formed the basis for collaboration between the Roman Catholic Church and Bible Societies ever since.

Significance

“The decision of the Bishops’ Conference,” says Dr Noss, “indicates the significance of the Guidelines for Bible translation, it is evidence of the important role of the Bible Societies in serving the churches and it is recognition of the effectiveness of Common Language interconfessional translations in fulfilling the assertion of Dei Verbum that ‘easy access to sacred Scripture should be provided for all Christian faithful’.”

Access

Both Dr Noss and Dr Bertalot highlight the growing importance of the Internet in giving people access to the Scriptures. The Bible section of the Bishops’ Conference site has an average of 120,000 ‘hits’ each month and is particularly popular at weekends, when many people use it to assist in tasks such as preparing Bible studies.