It is often said Catholics cannot interpret the
Bible on their own.
The Papal Encyclical, Divino Afflante Spiritus, of Pope
Pius XII in 1943 attempted to counteract this error by stating
that there are but few texts whose understanding has
been
determined by the teaching authority of the Church;
and
Catholics do indeed have freedom to interpret the
Scriptures.
The Catholic Church has been solicitous over the way
in which
the Bible is interpreted. Experience teaches us that
it is easy
to find even contradictory meanings from the same
Scripture
with an unbridled approach to reading and
interpreting the Bible.
