WHY do the Gideons not let Catholics be members?

[Eutychus123]

hey, if it wasnt for the redundancy ie." and it came to pass." it might actually be a pretty good read. peace

BOM?

I think Mark Twain called it “chloroform in print”. I suppose it might be ok if you have severe insomnia.

 

[Tradycja]

Catholics should not be distributing Protestant Bibles.

From an examination of conscience under the title “Mortal Sins” we see the following:

“6. Have I, without the necessary permission, read or kept or given to others forbidden books, such as Protestant Bibles, books on the Index of Prohibited Publications, books that pretend or profess to disprove the truth of the Catholic faith or that profess to prove the truth of a religion contrary to my faith?”

-By REV. DONALD F. MILLER, C.SS.R.
(Examination of Conscience for Adults, JANUARY-FAITH, I. Mortal Sins)
Imprimatur: Joseph E. Ritter, St. Louis, April 7, 1959
latin-mass.org/files/Examination%20of%20Conscience_01_January.pdf

Obviously the Church has relaxed these rules…but one should ask WHY did we have such rules in the first place? Because Protestant Bibles are not reliable and could have translated their Bibles to support heretical doctrines.

However, if Catholics could band together and form an apostolate similar to the Gideons that would be awesome!

 

[Pahoran]

LOL, what kind of security system is that school running? Next, they’ll have the Mormons distributing the book of Mormon.

Not likely; we’re opposed to proselyting children without their parents’ permission and involvement.

My first ever Bible was a Gideon 29-book pocket-size Bible. It was given to me at school. It was a public school. I bet that sort of thing doesn’t happen much these days.

But I rather like the idea of a Catholic equivalent to the Gideons. I’m actually surprised no-one has thought of it before. It would be a good and worthy work.

Regards,
Pahoran

 

[StevenFrancis]

Interesting. However, most of those Gideon Bibles are just the NT, which sidesteps the issue.

Huh?
I’ve been travelling frequently for 30 years. One of the first things I do in each motel/hotel room is seek the bible, (even before I was Christian, let alone Catholic). Every one I’ve seen was a protestant whole bible, (not containing the dueteros, aprocrypha and what have you.) I’m not saying you’re incorrect. They may have a whole other ministry aside from the hotel/motel industry, so I humbly accept correction.

I don’t have a Gideon placed bible with me, so I can’t be positive, but it seems to me they are King James bibles? I can’t remember that for sure. Anyway, never seen just a NT in a hotel room.

 

[Pahoran]

Huh?
I’ve been travelling frequently for 30 years. One of the first things I do in each motel/hotel room is seek the bible, (even before I was Christian, let alone Catholic). Every one I’ve seen was a protestant whole bible, (not containing the dueteros, aprocrypha and what have you.) I’m not saying you’re incorrect. They may have a whole other ministry aside from the hotel/motel industry, so I humbly accept correction.

I don’t have a Gideon placed bible with me, so I can’t be positive, but it seems to me they are King James bibles? I can’t remember that for sure. Anyway, never seen just a NT in a hotel room.

I’ve seen 66-book Gideon Bibles (KJV) in Hotel rooms. (They might have moved to RSV or NRV more recently, I can’t be sure.) The little pocket-size Bibles they used to give out were New Testament plus Psalms and Proverbs.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Pahoran

 

[StevenFrancis]

Do you foresee a Latin Vulgate in every motel in the country?

No, but perhaps the Ignatius bible would be nice instead. It could even still say distributed by the Gideons. I don’t mind.

 

[StevenFrancis]

I’ve seen 66-book Gideon Bibles (KJV) in Hotel rooms. (They might have moved to RSV or NRV more recently, I can’t be sure.) The little pocket-size Bibles they used to give out were New Testament plus Psalms and Proverbs.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Pahoran

Actually, I HAVE seen one of those. Just not in hotels. I also didn’t know they were Gideons. I figured they were Salvation Army. See. I learned something today. Thanks.

 

[Nine_Two]

my duay rheims has beautiful illustrations. but i think the average protestant would have problems navigating it. the books are pronounced completely different in some cases. like Chronicles is paraphel…well, i dont have it in front of me. i can hardly pronounce the word any ways. my protestant roomate borrowed it, and had fits trying to find what he was looking for. (thats what you get, when you try to read other peoples mail) yeah nab would be better. Peace

Your bible is just using the traditional Greek names.

 

[Nine_Two]

I’ve seen 66-book Gideon Bibles (KJV) in Hotel rooms. (They might have moved to RSV or NRV more recently, I can’t be sure.) The little pocket-size Bibles they used to give out were New Testament plus Psalms and Proverbs.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Pahoran

I doubt they would change version. KJV is the only protestant version I know of that has no copyright on it, which means they don’t have to pay royalties, which means much cheaper operating costs.

 

[PaulDupre]

Huh?
I’ve been travelling frequently for 30 years. One of the first things I do in each motel/hotel room is seek the bible, (even before I was Christian, let alone Catholic). Every one I’ve seen was a protestant whole bible, (not containing the dueteros, aprocrypha and what have you.) I’m not saying you’re incorrect. They may have a whole other ministry aside from the hotel/motel industry, so I humbly accept correction.

I don’t have a Gideon placed bible with me, so I can’t be positive, but it seems to me they are King James bibles? I can’t remember that for sure. Anyway, never seen just a NT in a hotel room.

The Gideons distribute the New King James Version

 

[GeoCyclist]

As someone who has travelled the world I’m very grateful to them because the first thing I look for in any hotel room or guesthouse room Ive been in is the Bible and it’s always been there. And it makes me feel at ease and comfortable right away. As soon as I’ve handled it, I can start to unpack, shower, have dinner - it’s a ritual I’ve develped. I’ve seen both versions, the complete bible but in more recent years everywhere Ive stayed in has just had the New Test, psalms and proverbs. I never knew you couldnt join them if you were a catholic business man or woman.

 

[Byzantine_Wolf]

I have no need to look for a Bible in the hotel room, really. I downloaded the ESV app to my iTouch, and I’ve never looked back.

 

[Jon_Hus]

As mentioned by a previous posters, the Gideons distribute the New King James Version. Individuals such as students and institution workers (military, nurses, ffirefighters, prison inmates and so forth) receive pocket New Testaments that have color coded covers based on the intended recipient. Places that a copy will be placed such as hotel rooms and Drs waiting rooms are given full sized Bibles. My first Bible was given to me by the Gideons. They were handing out New Testaments on campus, I asked them for a complete Bible and they were happy to give me one.

By the way, the Gideons place about 80 million Bibles world wide per year, by far the most by any organization. The United Bible Society (American Bible Society) places around 50 million/year. All of the Gideons placing Bibles are volunteers.

A companion question to the OP would be, WHY do the Knights of Columbus not let Protestants be members? The answer to that question should be sufficient enough to answer the OP question.

 

[KathleenGee]

I read the Bible in motel rooms and don’t make issue with it being KJV.

The Knights of Columbus defend the Catholic Church.