World Youth Day catechism suggests endorsement of ‘contraceptive methods’

[Abyssinia]

A new Vatican-sponsored catechism intended for youth suggests that Christian couples “can and should” use “contraceptive methods” when deciding on how many children to have.

Organizers of World Youth Day have already ordered 700,000 copies of YouCat to give to young pilgrims along with a sleeping bag, map and other accessories.

Vatican sources who spoke to EWTN News April 11 on the condition of anonymity speculated that the problem was in the original German text, a fact that was later confirmed by EWTN News.

“YouCat” is to be published in 12 additional languages. The English edition, published by Ignatius Press, does not contain the problematic language. It is not yet known if other language versions also contain the same controversial statement on contracepti

Read more: ewtnnews.com/catholic-news/Vatican.php?id=2980#ixzz1JFr1dRUd

 

[Tigg]

The creation of the 300-page YouCat was overseen by Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, Archbishop of Vienna. It was given the doctrinal seal of approval by the Bishops of Austria in March 2010. Cardinal Schonborn was also the editor of the universal Catechism of the Catholic Church, published in 1992.

I do not believe that in and of themselves the Bishops of Austria can approve a catechism without the whole contingent of the Magisterim, including the pope, in agreement.

This has shades of the infamous Dutch Catechism, parts of which were rejected by the Holy See.

Can someone smarter than myself please explain how this can be?

 

[ANNE_2]

There may be a problem in one of the languages.

From EWTN article - - - - “YouCat” is to be published in 12 additional languages. The English edition, published by Ignatius Press, does not contain the problematic language. It is not yet known if other language versions also contain the same controversial statement on contraception.
The Catholic Church has always opposed the use of contraception. In the official Catechism of the Catholic Church, its use is described as “intrinsically evil.”

I hope all languages are checked thoroughly checked prior to distribution.

This is not the first time there has been a language problem.
The “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition”, which was approved by JP II in the
mid-1990s had errors in English. The corrected version was not released/printed in the USA until March 2000.
The cover on the accurate CCC 2nd Ed includes the verbiage “revised in accordance with the official Latin text promulgated by Pope John Paul II”.
If I remember correctly EWTN staff under Mother Angelica brought these translation errors to the attention of the Vatican.

Thank you, EWTN.

 

[manualman]

Smells like a rat.

 

[Warrenton]

Vatican sources who spoke to EWTN News April 11 on the condition of anonymity speculated that the problem was in the original German text,

I have to remember this, next time someone asks, “Why does the Church use Latin?”

 

[Baron_Korf]

The problem was not in the original Italian text approved. Production and distribution has been halted to correct the problem.

 

[curlycool89]

I have to remember this, next time someone asks, “Why does the Church use Latin?”

So, what you’re saying is that Latin as a language is “infallible”?

 

[Tigg]

The problem was not in the original Italian text approved. Production and distribution has been halted to correct the problem.

Do you have a source for this?

 

[Phemie]

If the problem was in the German original, and other translations got it right, why didn’t the Italian?

According to a CBC article, the German question is mistranslated in Italian.

But in the Italian copy of the book, which is set out as a series of questions and answers with commentary, the initial question is mistranslated. In the original German, the question concerns whether married couples can “regulate conception.”

The answer says yes, then goes onto explain that the church promotes natural family planning.

In the Italian however, the original question wasn’t translated as “regulate conception” but rather whether married couples could “use contraceptive methods.” The answer remained the same, an affirmative yes, implying that the church was sanctioning contraception.

cbc.ca/news/offbeat/story/2011/04/12/condoms-catholics-pope-book.html

 

[Baron_Korf]

Do you have a source for this?

Yes ma’am.

Youth catechism’s Italian edition suspended after translation error
via
Distribution of Italian edition of YOUCAT (Youth Catechism) temporarily suspended

I would also note I meant to say “original German text”, as that is the source text for all the translations.

 

[Phemie]

Yes ma’am.

Youth catechism’s Italian edition suspended after translation error
via
Distribution of Italian edition of YOUCAT (Youth Catechism) temporarily suspended

I would also note I meant to say “original German text”, as that is the source text for all the translations.

Tigg was looking for support of your assertion that there had been two Italian translations, a correct one and a subsequent incorrect one.

Thank you for clarifying that that was not what you meant.

It’s true that all sources I’ve seen have said that the original German was correct, which is why there seems to be no problem with any but the Italian translation.

 

[Sirach2]

The English-language publisher of a new Vatican-sponsored youth catechism says that a passage suggesting the use of contraception by Christian couples is not in the book’s original German text, which was incorrectly translated into Italian.

“The Italian translation was really a mistaken understanding of the German,” Jesuit Father Joseph Fessio, Ignatius Press’ founding editor, said April 12.

More here:
ncregister.com/daily-news/lost-in-the-translation/

 

[purplesunshine]

I have to remember this, next time someone asks, “Why does the Church use Latin?”

Because all teenagers are so up on reading things in latin

 

[Warrenton]

So, what you’re saying is that Latin as a language is “infallible”?

No, but I am saying that it’s useful if you find yourself in the neighborhood of a certain tower referred to in Genesis…

 

[Warrenton]

Because all teenagers are so up on reading things in latin

The original text was in German, not Latin. Although doubtless, teenagers all over the world gather together in virtual space to discuss the words of Goethe’s poems, and the jucier portions of Gunter Grass.

 

[purplesunshine]

No, but I am saying that it’s useful if you find yourself in the neighborhood of a certain tower referred to in Genesis…

Latin is a dead language…which means that there are no native speakers and therefore, translations are based on a VERY small group of translators.

 

[Baron_Korf]

And there is no vernacular of Latin. So it experiences very little change over time, unlike living languages. And since so many texts have been written in this dead language, there is a large body of translations to use as reference points. In fact, Google says it was the easiest language to program into it’s translator since there is such a large sample of Latin texts with translations.

 

[Santi2]

Smells like a rat.

Others express the same. Here’s an excerpt from the English translation of an article by an Italian Catholic blogger. She offers her personal insight into the mistake and seethes at the lack of support for the Holy Father.

…

This is not the first time that errors have been committed which are as serious as they are gross, sure of the most absolute impunity. Has anything changed in recent years? It doesn’t look like it! When all is said and done, for six years Benedict XVI has paid for the faults of everyone else: this is not the first time that we have commented on it.

In 2006, in January, he had to announce the issue of his first encyclical at a General Audience; its publication had been postponed time and again, supposedly because of problems of translation.

Have we perhaps forgotten the errors contained in the Italian version of the first volume of “Jesus of Nazareth”?

Or have we overlooked the mess that had to be put right with the (again Italian) version of “Light of the World” which even had spelling mistakes?

Or have we eradicated from our memory what happened in 2009 with the revocation of the excommunication of the Lefebvrists? There was a lovely meeting between cardinals in which it was decided with absolute autonomy that it was not worth bothering to explain the reason for the decree of remission approved by the Pope – with all the consequences that we are familiar with.
…
the-hermeneutic-of-continuity.blogspot.com/2011/04/youcat-fiasco-raffaella-says-give-us.html

The original entry in Italian is provided in the link.

What we can do is continue to pray for the Holy Father and for a successful WYD in Madrid.

 

[Mary_Gail_36]

Latin is a dead language…which means that there are no native speakers and therefore, translations are based on a VERY small group of translators.

See, but most Italian students in high school study Latin and do very long complicated translation of classic latin texts.

Most older priests know Latin as well.

 

[Tigg]

Others express the same. Here’s an excerpt from the English translation of an article by an Italian Catholic blogger. She offers her personal insight into the mistake and seethes at the lack of support for the Holy Father.

The original entry in Italian is provided in the link.

What we can do is continue to pray for the Holy Father and for a successful WYD in Madrid
manualman;7753197:

Smells like a rat.

Thanks to both of you…I wouldn’t want to be alone in my paranoia, but c’mon…isn’t translation a pretty weak excuse when all is said and done and the potential for harm exceedingly great?

Suspicious person that I am, I’m also worried that something untoward may happen with the final version of the New Roman Missal…I mean, if they can take the word “virgin” out of the latest version of scripture and insert “young woman” with all the negative contrasts between those two words…well…need I say more?

I guess I just don’t understand the whole process. Doesn’t recognitio need to be given before any final publication? Phemie…you’re a wealth of info…do you know, by chance?