In this post a few of the more ‘memorable’ Roman Catholic decrees forbidding the translation, reading and preaching of Scriptures by the laity will be cited. Such prohibitions span centuries, culminating in the Index of Forbidden Books which was in effect until 1966.
Cum ex injuncto:
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Translation:Cum_ex_injuncto
This letter was penned in 1199 by Pope Innocent III. The proliferation of Waldensian doctrines and adherents had metastasized over such a large area that the Archbishop of Metz implored the Pope to address the situation.
“To all the faithful in Christ established both in the city of Metz and in its diocese. Laymen should not preach, nor organize secret assemblies, nor find fault with priests.”
[N.B. The Waldenses were not ignorant of the treatment given other so-called ‘heretics’ a century earlier. They preferred not to be burned, if possible. Therefore, it was necessary and prudent of them to disciple newcomers, hold Bible studies, preach to the brethren, and pray with each other in secret, while using vernacular translations of Scripture. As a result of their reading and/or hearing the Scripture in their native tongue, it was quite common that frequent disputes with the Catholic priesthood would take place. Inevitably, the anti-biblical doctrinal falsehoods, as well as the sinful lifestyles (read ‘faults’) of those entrusted with the ‘care of souls’ would be exposed.]
“Since, according to the duty of apostleship assigned to us, we have become, as the Apostle says, debtors ‘to the wise and to the unwise,’ we are required to be concerned for the salvation of everyone, so that we may both lead back evil men from their vices, and foster good men in their virtues. There is, then, need for greater discretion, when vices enter secretly under the guise of virtues, and the angel of Satan deceitfully transforms himself into an angel of the light.”
[N.B. A common complaint raised by the Catholic hierarchy centers on the outward piety and virtue of the Waldenses. This posed a perplexing problem. How could a people so obviously selfless, hardworking and kind to others be the spawn of Satan? The answer must lie in the fact that it is all a wicked deception of Satan, who has the power to appear virtuous and holy.]
“Truly our venerable brother the bishop of Metz has signified to us in his letter that both in the diocese and in the city of Metz the multitude of laymen and women, drawn in no small way by desire, have had the Scriptures, Gospels, the Pauline epistles, the Psalter, the commentaries on Job and many other books translated for their own use into the French language, exerting themselves towards this kind of translation so willingly, but not so prudently, that in secret meetings the laymen and women dare to discuss such matters between themselves, and to preach to each other: they also reject their community, do not intermingle with similar people, and consider themselves separate from them, and do not align their ears and minds with them; when any of the parish priests wished to censure them concerning these matters, they stood firm before them, trying to argue from the Scriptures that they should not be prohibited in any way from doing these things. Some of them also scorned the simplicity of their priests; and when the Word of Salvation is shown to them by those priests, they grumble in secret that they understand the Word better in their little books and that they can explain it more prudently.”
[N.B. Re: ‘the simplicity of priests’: The Waldenses, as well as other so-called ‘heretics’ before and after them, castigated the lazy friars and priests who did not work, but rather through begging and mandatory tithes lived off others.]
The Council of Toulouse, 1229
“We prohibit also that the laity should be permitted to have the books of the Old or the New Testament; unless anyone from motives of devotion should wish to have the Psalter or the Breviary for divine offices or the hours of the blessed Virgin; but we most strictly forbid their having any translation of these books” (Maitland, S. R., Facts and Documents Illustrative of the History, Doctrine and Rites of the Ancient Albigenses and Waldenses, 1832; 194). https://archive.org/details/factsdocumentsil00mait/page/n5
Bull of Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, 1369 (Per request and authority of Pope Urban V.)
“Wherefore since we have received trustworthy information that there are in Germany sermons, treatises and other books written in the vulgar tongue which are used by lay people or unlettered; and that these books are generally harmful, erroneous and infected with the leprosy of heresy; and that the lay people who read them do not understand them in a safe or good sense; and that they wish to know through their own understanding more than it befits them to know….wherefore we strictly enjoin and command all venerable archbishops, bishops, clerics regular and secular, and all dukes, princes, etc., and each and every man, on their obedience to the Holy Roman Empire that ye assist the said inquisitors and their deputies to demand and confiscate such books, treatises, sermons, pamphlets, leaves, bound books, etc. written in the vulgar tongue, from all men, whatsoever their rank…….it is not lawful, according to canon law, for lay people of either sex to read any books whatsoever of holy scripture written in the vulgar tongue……and ye shall lend your counsel and effectual help that the aforesaid books should be presented to the inquisitors to be burned (Deansley, op. cit., 84.)