The Message Catholic/Ecumenical Bible?

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A blog that recommends Bible translations for Catholics has been presenting a new paraphrase called The Message: Catholic/Ecumenical Edition in several of its articles.

The publishers are not Catholic, and when asked if they would be seeking proper ecclesiastical approval they stated it was not necessary for their version, saying:

The Catholic/Ecumenical Edition is meant for use by anyone who values the deuterocanonical writings as either an integral part of the Bible or additional sacred texts worthy of reading and discussion. As such, The Message: Catholic/Ecumenical Edition is not intended to be an “official” Bible of the Catholic Church for use at Mass or for formal catechetics. It was therefore not necessary or even appropriate for us to seek USCCB approval or an imprimatur from a specific bishop. The Message: Catholic/Ecumenical Edition is not a publication of the Catholic Church but an aid to seekers and believers alike in understanding and appreciating the Bible published by an independent, for-profit publishing house that specializes in books for the Catholic/Christian market.

The owner of the blog where this information is being presented seems to agree with the publisher that no such approval is necessary. My understanding is that regardless whether or not a translation is a product of formal equivalence, dynamic equivalence, or paraphrase approaches, the end result must still receive ecclesiastical approval if it is to be offered to the Catholic public as suitable for use in private study, reading, and prayer.

Am I incorrect or should something be done about this to correct this misunderstanding and how? I hope I am misunderstanding something as this is a great blog.
 
DelsonJacobs said:
A blog that recommends Bible translations for Catholics has been presenting a new paraphrase called The Message: Catholic/Ecumenical Edition in several of its articles.

The publishers are not Catholic, and when asked if they would be seeking proper ecclesiastical approval they stated it was not necessary for their version, saying:

The Catholic/Ecumenical Edition is meant for use by anyone who values the deuterocanonical writings as either an integral part of the Bible or additional sacred texts worthy of reading and discussion. As such, The Message: Catholic/Ecumenical Edition is not intended to be an “official” Bible of the Catholic Church for use at Mass or for formal catechetics. It was therefore not necessary or even appropriate for us to seek USCCB approval or an imprimatur from a specific bishop. The Message: Catholic/Ecumenical Edition is not a publication of the Catholic Church but an aid to seekers and believers alike in understanding and appreciating the Bible published by an independent, for-profit publishing house that specializes in books for the Catholic/Christian market.

The owner of the blog where this information is being presented seems to agree with the publisher that no such approval is necessary. My understanding is that regardless whether or not a translation is a product of formal equivalence, dynamic equivalence, or paraphrase approaches, the end result must still receive ecclesiastical approval if it is to be offered to the Catholic public as suitable for use in private study, reading, and prayer.

Am I incorrect or should something be done about this to correct this misunderstanding and how? I hope I am misunderstanding something as this is a great blog.
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As the publisher of the blog I simply reporting what I have received from ACTA. I neither endorse or reject their comments on trying to get ecclesiastical approval.
 
mccorm45 said:
As the publisher of the blog I simply reporting what I have received from ACTA. I neither endorse or reject their comments on trying to get ecclesiastical approval.
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“This is a great blog.”

That was how I ended my post and I stand by that.

I was merely asking a question about what the publisher said, what they were doing, and if this was correct procedure according to Canon Law. My query is in regard to whether my understanding about whether approval would be necessary for this to be used for Catholic study and prayer, regardless of it being a paraphrase. The publisher claims that such makes it unnecessary.

If the publisher is not correct, my question is if something should be done about this. I am glad you are just reporting on this, but how do we make this clear for people like me who don’t know these things like you.
 
I know nothing about the bible in question, but I think the following indicates that the publisher is wrong, especially if they intend to call it a Catholic Bible:
Can. 825 §1 Books of the sacred Scriptures may not be published unless they are approved by the Apostolic See or the Episcopal Conference. The publication of translations of the sacred Scriptures requires the approval of the same authority, and they must have necessary and sufficient explanatory notes.
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see: vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P2Q.HTM
 
DelsonJacobs said:
“This is a great blog.”

That was how I ended my post and I stand by that.

I was merely asking a question about what the publisher said, what they were doing, and if this was correct procedure according to Canon Law. My query is in regard to whether my understanding about whether approval would be necessary for this to be used for Catholic study and prayer, regardless of it being a paraphrase. The publisher claims that such makes it unnecessary.

If the publisher is not correct, my question is if something should be done about this. I am glad you are just reporting on this, but how do we make this clear for people like me who don’t know these things like you.
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Thank you for stopping by my site, definitely appreciate it. Just wanted to make myself clear that I in now way explicitly endorse their decision not to seek ecclesiastical approval. That is between them and the USCCB. My contact at the USCCB has let me know that they are aware of this publication.
 
Note that there is now a website with much more information, including articles, samples, FAQs, reviews, and even a free weekly email service with the next Sunday’s lectionary readings:

themessagecatholic.com
 
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