Well, That's Interesting: Benedict XVI and the Bible

I think this post/article is worth reading:

"Scott Hahn on Benedict's Biblically Focused Pontificate"
The Sacred Page (April 26, 2010)

"National Catholic Register has a great piece up by Scott Hahn celebrating the fifth anniversary of Benedict XVI's election to the papacy. In the article Hahn discusses how the Holy Father has especially devoted his pontificate to calling the faithful to the study of Sacred Scripture.

"While this priority of the pope is not something you'll hear much about in the mainstream media, make no mistake about it, this pontiff has been uniquely focused on calling the faithful to renew their faith in the Bible...."

A "Bible-believing" Pope? No surprise. We've had 264 before Benedict XVI.

The Catholic Church isn't a "Bible-believing church" in the contemporary American meaning of the phrase, though. Although individual American Catholics may have a personal style that's similar to that of "Bible-thumpers," the Catholic Church isn't "Bible believing."

Not in the sense that we all think Pastor Bob or Reverend Bill preaches Direct From the Bible - and that everybody else is in league with Satan and/or duped by the Devil. Yes, I'm being unfair. A little. ("Haiti: Voodoo, Pat Robertson, and the Catholic Church" (January 16, 2010))

I've written about the Catholic Church and the Bible before. This is a fairly good summary:

"...Catholics aren't in a "roll-your-own doctrines" church. What the church believes and teaches is based on

• "The Bible
• "Tradition
• "The Magisterium

"The Magisterium interprets the deposit of faith in its written form, and in Tradition. But there are rules. "...this Magisterium is not superior to the Word of God, but is its servant." (86) And the Church gets its authority from Jesus, who...."
(February 19, 2009)

The Bible? Yes: I read the Word of God - translated into the language I know best. Do I "believe in" the Bible as the Word of God? I'm Catholic: I have to. It's in the rules. (Catechism of the Catholic Church (105)

Am I surprised that a Pope is putting an emphasis on studying the Bible? No: but then, I know a little bit about the Catholic Church.

• " 'Death Cookie' Comic: Seemed Like a Good Idea At the Time?"
  (March 5, 2010)
• "Well, That's Interesting: Understanding the Scriptures"
  (February 2, 2010)
• "Why Did I Convert to Catholicism?"
  (November 24, 2009)
• "Yeah, it Could Be Worse"
  (July 24, 2009)
• " 'Catholics and Muslims along with the fake Jews all are Satanic Cults' - Who Knew?"
  (April 2, 2009)
• "The Roman Catholic Church isn't a Democracy"
  (February 19, 2009)
• "Catholics Not Allowed to Read Bible!! Catholic Church Banned Bible Ownership!!"
  (January 27, 2009)
  • Not, by the way
• "The Catholic Church: Authoritarian, Which Isn't Necessarily a Bad Thing"
  (October 2, 2008)
• "The Bible-Believing Catholic Church"
  (October 2, 2008)
• "The Pope, the Antichrist, and Fu Manchu"
  (October 2, 2008)

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A tip of the hat to MatthewWarner, on Twitter, for the heads-up on the 'Scott Hahn' article.