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PAGF. 2 GEORGIA BULLETIN THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 1963 ACCEPTABLE TO ALL Common Bible In English Spurred By Ecumenical Spirit The author of the following article is president of the Cat holic Bibical Association of America, an official theologian of the Second Vatican Council, professor of Sacred Scripture at Mt. St. Mary’s of the West Seminary , Norwood, Ohio, and chariman of the editorial board of the new magazine, The Bi ble Today. Catholic or Protestant, are un ited in their commitment to the Person of Jesus Christ, thefull revelation of His Father. This commitment is based, primar ily on the knowledge of Christ, of what He said and did, and of the primitive Church’s evaluat ion, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, of His words and deeds. BY FR. EUGENE H. MALY (N. C. W.C. NEWS SERVICE A version of the Bible ac ceptable alike to Catholics, Or thodox and Protestants of the English - speaking world— whose total Christian population far outnumbers that of any other language group—has become a definite possibility. Promotion of such a Bible translation has been spurred mainly by two factors. One is the ecumenical movement, which has created the need, or at least the hope, for a com mon Bible. The other is the state of modern Biblical scho larship that has made such a project possible. Neither factor is essentially related to the ot her. ALL CHRISTIANS, whether Ed Curtis Now Feotariag For 24th DYNAMIC WEEK BOBBY LONERO QUINTET ALLEN COLLAY DUO FROM 5:00 TO 7:00 P.M. DANCE AT THE SANS SOUCI 750 WEST P'TREE TR. 5-4251 All Christians, moreover, would agree that at least the major truths undergirding the Christian commitment are to be found in the Scriptures:”... these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believ ing you may have life in His name" (John 20:31). The proponents of the com mon Bible have an obvious point to make from this. The fortu nes of ecumenism will be con siderably enhanced by a com mon acceptance of the truths contained in the Scriptures. And the first and necessary step to such an acceptance is the agre ement on a common text. THE ECUMENICAL dialogue, however, is not properly served by a refusal to consider the dif ferences between Catholic and Protestant, differences that af fect the Bibical text itself and the Bible’s role in the Christ ian commitment. With regard to the Biblical text one of the ma jor factors has been the Cath olic attitude to the Vulgate, the Latin translation made by St. Jerome over 1,500 years ago. This translation was declared to be "authentic’' by the Coun cil of Trent and was to be used in public lectures, disputations and in preaching. Protestant scholars, while admitting the value of the Vul gate as an early witness to the transmission of the original text, could not accept it as the basis of a common Bible. Its deficiencies, from a critical viewpoint, would only be an ob stacle to a common interpre tation. This seemingly major road block to a common Bible was at least partially removed by Pope Pius XII in his encycli cal Divino Afflante Spiritu. He stated that the Council of Trent’s declaration was in tended as a juridical, not a critical, evaluation. In other words, because of its legitimate use in the Church for so many years, we can be certain that it is free from error in mat ters of faith and morals. It does not mean, he went on to say, that translations from the orig inal text are forbidden. Pope Pius himself greatly encoura ged such translations, affirming them to be not only necessary but even "urgently demanded.” MORE serious, perhaps, is the role of the Bible in the Christian commitment. the Protestant generally the Bible alone provides the necessary and sufficient basis for the com mitment. For the Catholic, Tra dition is no less necessary. It is this Tradition that provides the authoritative interpretation of Christian doctrine. If, how ever, Tradition does not add substantially to the truths con tained in the Bible, there would still be a solid basis for leg itimate hope for eventual agree ment on the major truths, sin ce they would be contained in the Scriptures. Honest and dedi cated scholarship should be able to find them. Both the Protestant emphasis on Scripture alone and the Cat holic emphasis on Tradition have been somewhat modified in recent years. Protestant theologians are becoming in creasingly aware of the role of the Church in the interpretat ion of the Scriptures, and Cat holic theologians are giving more stress to the Bible's role in the Church. Both these posi tions will encourage the ecum enical dialogue and, eventually the common Bible proponents. On an entirely different level, modern scholars, both Catholic and non-Catholic, have provided SHOUT IT FROM THE MNT ADS TilEWAI THERE'S MAGIC IN mi ADS Whatever you want to buy, sell or rent... whatever you want to find, from a lost umbrella to a new job... Want Ads serve you results "on a silver platter” ...at low cost. FAST ACTION FROM tfANT ADS IT’S VERY EASY TO PLACE * YOUR HARD WORKING, INEXPENSIVE WANT AD.... Coll 231-1281 and the friendly classified girl will help you word your result producing advertisement THE GEORGIA BULLETIN added stimulus to the project. Their scientific examination of the various texts and versions of the Scriptures has led to in creasingly greater agreement as to what was th e original text that came from the hands of the inspired authors. THIS MAY demand some ex- plantation The Biblical text has not come down to us complete ly unscathed. Througout the ages copyists, whose task it was to preserve the original Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek text, have introduced literally hundreds of variant readings At times this was done cons- cously to make more intelligi ble an obscure reading, or to make the text conform to the personal theological convict ions of the copyists themsel ves. Much more frequently it was due simply to human error. The translators of the origi nal texts added to the confus ion through an incomplete know ledge of the original languages or through a too free trans lation. The discovery of more and more ancient manuscripts, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, has enabled the scholars to insti tute comparisons that have re sulted in the elimination of many of the textual corruptions. Also, a more complete knowled ge of the original corruptions. Also, a more complete know ledge of die original languages has made possible a translat ion which, while not completely satisfying to every critic, would be generally acceptable as a working tool. At least denomi national interests would not be a major factor in the project of a common Bible. THERE ARE already inexis tence several excellent trans lations of the Bible in English. Among them are the Revised Standard Version, used by many Protestant groups; the Ameri can Translation, published by the University of Chicago; the New English Bible, a work by English scholars, of which only thus far; Msgr. Ronald Knox's well-known translation, and the American Catholic translation of the Old Testament, not yet completed, produced under the auspices erf the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. Biblical scholars make common use of these in articles, lectures and discussions. In their minds they represent, in general, critically accurate versions of the ins pired word. Because of this acceptance some have taken a further step and suggested using one of these as the basis of a Catholic com mentary. In fact, such a com mentary as using its text the Revised Standard Version was authorized by Rome and was to be produced by English schol ars. Only the hesitations of some caused the subsequent ab- andonment of the project. MUCH more recently, how ever, a significant "breakthr ough” was realized here in the United States in the publicat ion by the Liturgical Press of a series of meditations from the Church Fathers using the Scri pture readings from the same Revised Standard Bars ion. En titled "Death and Resurrect ion” by Father Vincent A. Yzer- mans, the book has the impri nt atu re of Bishop Peter W. Bar- tholome of St. Cloud. Perhaps even more signifi cant is a project now underway in which a group of internat ionally known Biblical scholars, both Catholic and non-Catholic, is preparing a series of trans lations and commentaries of the various books of the Bible. Un der the editorship of Dr. W. F. Albright, of Johns Hopkins Uni versity in Baltimore, the ser ies will eventually be publish ed by Doubleday. It is not a com mon Bible in the strict sense of the word, since each author is responsible only for the book being prepared by him. But it is indicative of what is pos sible in this field. Despite these advances there are still hesitations. Would such a Bible be accepted by all Eng lish-speaking Christians? What would be the fate of the al ready existing, and in most cas es excellent, translations? Is there really a need for a com mon Bible? These hesitations w ill vanish only when it is made clear what precise purpose the S TRANGE BUT TRU LittU-Known Facts for Catholics By M. J. MURRAY CbfjnrtfM. ins, N.C.W.C Nr*, ImKi Sn ftve. %A?IUQA of* OUR. LADY Cn ALGIERS prayers ARE SAID EACH DAY AT MASS’ For those in danger at sea. 'This custom has been OBSERVED FOR Nearly too YEARS And Follows a vow made by a Bishop of . Algiers who was saved r.:- From shipwreck . mTRON OP BREWERS IS ST THOMAS of Canterbury (l 118-1170). Brewing WHS AN IMPORTANT INDUSTRY IN THE ARCA He Ruled as •ARCHBISHOP. 5? Only Doctor of the church WHO WAS NEITHER A Bit HOP NOR A PRirST IS THE 4V Century Scholar STEPNREM op NiS/B/S, ONE OP THE EARLIEST WRITERS OF CHURCH HYMNS. EVTRY Year -thousands or FRENCH TEENAGE PILGRIMS WALK FROM PARIS TO THE GREAT CATHEDRAL OF CHARTRES IN MEMORY OF the Catholic post Charles peguy, who oieo in world war i common Bible will serve. IT WILL not supplant the ver sions now used in the liturgi cal services of the various confessions. Nor would it be the suggested text for religious in structions, Biblical talks or discussions among members of the same confession. In fact, for these purposes a variety of different translations would be desirable for bringing out the varying shades of meaning that the Hebrew or Greek text often has, but which no single translation can adequately ex press. Rather, a common Bible would serve as the text to be used in those public, non lit urgical gatherings where both Catholic and Protestant would be represented. It could serve well as a text for ecumeni cal dialogues. And not least of all would be its value as a symbol to the world of that ag reement that sincere Christians can reach when the effort is made. The council Fathers, in the first session of the Second Vat ican Council, have emphasized the place of the Bible in the lives of Christians. Here are two other areas in which they may take action when the coun cil reconvenes on September 29: —First of all, in view of Pope John XXIII's several stat ements on the unity of Chris tendom—and their reiteration by His Holiness Pope Paul VI —we can expect that the coun cil will express encouragement of the ecumenical movement and of all the means possible for the attainment of Christian unity. It would then be left to the nat ional episcopal bodies to deter mine what role the common Bible could play in this move ment and to act accordingly. —Secondly, many hope that further encouragement will be given to the Biblical scholars in their work of providing cri tically accurate translations. This would, of course, be a follow-up to the express state ments of Pius XII in his Scri ptural encyclical. And by a deemphasis of the Vulgate as a critical version, it would fur nish a more solid basis for the common agreement of all scholars on an acceptable translation. The common Bible is not a project that will be realized overnight. Some might even question its necessity, granted the acceptance and use of the existing translations by mem bers of all the Christian faiths. What is much more important is the change in the religious and scholarly atmosphere that has made the discussion of the project possible. DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS Delayed Vocations School’s 17th Year BOSTON (RNS) — A unique Roman Catholic school for the pre-seminary training of men with "delayed vocations” for the priesthood will begin its 17th year here with an enrollment including a former Dublin sa loon-keeper, an Oklahoma man ager of a chain of movie hous es, and an ex-army specialist in atomic weapons. The school of St. Philip Neri for Delayed Vocations was es tablished by the Society of Je sus (Jesuits) here in 1946. Its purpose is to provide special education for men who decide late in life to aspire to the priesthood. MORE THAN 500 seminary candidates completed courses at the Jesuit school. Of these, 243 graduates went on to semi naries to be ordained for 82 dioceses, and 119 for 32 reli gious orders. The Rev. Walter J. Martin, S.J., school director, observed that many applicants for the pre- seminary training are skilled in their trades or pro fessions but lack some of the classical scholarship required in theological schools. Father Martin said these ap plicants are given a "liberal dosage” of Latin, Greek, French, English and Religion- all in a nine month course — before they are certified for formal seminary studies. To indicate the diversity of backgrounds the students bring to the Jesuit institution. Father Martin listed some of their past occupations. These included a special agent for the U. S. Department of Commerce, an Army lan guage translator, a Washington, D.C., police chiefs association worker, a Belgian coal miner, and a former Notre Dame var sity- football player. FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE Cardinal Spellman Gets Legion Honor THE COMMANDER said the Cardinal was the unamous choice of the executive commit tee of the veterans’ organizat ion. The medal is the legion's highest award to an individual for service in behalf of causes to which the legion is dedicated ( —the service of God and coun try. The award was instituted by the legion in 1921. The resolution announcing the Cardinal’s selection for the honor said he "has contin- ously demonstrated his friend ship, and his sympathy and his devotion to the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States armed forces and his concern for their morale and their welfare whtreever they may be stationed,” SECRETARY SAYS; Membership Not Likely In World Council MONTREAL (NC) — The general secretary of the World Council of Churches considers the chance of the Catholic Church joining the World Coun- cil so remote that he has not even considered its implica tions. Dr. W. A. Wisser *t Hooft said the question of Catholic membership in the World Coun cil is one for Catholics them selves to settle. AND, he added, it is "not really an actual question be cause in any case, from a pas toral and practical view, it seems that the Catholic Church would not contemplate it.” As for the impact of Catho lic membership on the World Council, "there would be such a revolution in the World Coun cil of Churches that we haven't even begun to think what it would mean,” he said. Dr. Wisser ’t Hooft expres sed these views in an interview with Father P. W. McAvoyofthe Canadian Register. The World Council general secretary was in Montreal for a two-week meeting of the council’s Faith and Order Commission. DR. Wisser *t Hooft said the presence of Catholic observers and guests and representatives of the Catholic press at the Faith and Order meeting was "re markable.” He predicted that the future development of the World Coun cil w ill be "of a different na ture” than simply an increase in membership. Rather, he said, the council will seek "more theological discussion and more consultation that we have had.” The growing complexity of the ecumenical movement will make it necessary for future meetings of such groups as the Faith and Order Commission! to operate with "a much more concentrated agenda,” he said. "I also begin to think that the best progress in die coming ‘years will be made in bilateral gatherings — gatherings which would concentrate wholly on questions of the eastern and western churches and their spe cific problems, or between episcopal churches which be lieve in apostolic succession and non-episcopal churches, or between older churches with their specific traditions and younger churches,” he said. The World Council is com posed of 201 Christian denomi nations. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member. How ever, five official Catholic ob servers attended the Faith and Order meeting here (July 12- 26) on behalf of the Vatican Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity, and other signs of Catholic interest and sym pathy were evident during the conference. Parish School Study Head NOTRE DAME, Ind. (NC)— Reginald A. Neuwien has been named director of a nationwide study of Catholic elementary and secondary education under way at Notre Dame University. Neuwien, who has been asso ciate director of the project, succeeds William Conley, who was recently named president of the new Sacred Heart Univer sity', Bridgeport, Conn. Neuwien’s appointment was announced by George N. Shust er, assistant to the president of Notre Dame, who is a member of a three-man committee with overall responsibility for the Catholic education study. Sees Delegate VATICAN CITY (NC)—Pope Paul VI last week received Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi, Apostolic Delegate in the United States in private audience. for tht bast m»*r pest ^control^ Service t H f OtlanlaiL MOTOR HOTEL tEWIS PHARMACY PRESCRIPTION SPECIALISTS PROMPT DELIVERY SERVICE CALL US: CE 3-5353 2802 PIEDMONT ROAD, N.E. ATLANTA, GEORGIA • TV * AIR CONDITIONING • FAMOUS MIAMI BUFFET • ICS A BSVSRAOS STATIONS • COFFEE MAKER. EACH ROOM LUCKIL A I CONI ‘ . I A Gamt Addivss in At' mi.i MOVING? PLEASE NOTIFY US SEND US THIS NOTICE TODAY: THE GEORGIA BULLETIN P.O. 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