[1.Did the RC Church conscientiously try to hide the Bible from the people - and if so what might have been their motivation?]

Recently I ran across a short book at this link: http://www.inthebeginning.com/books/ecc.htm#Chapter%201   There are a number of controversial subjects discussed in this book "The Great Ecclesiastical Conspiracy". I would like to open a discussion on these beginning with Chapter 1. I would ask that we not get into the other controversial subjects until we have finished the topic below from Chapter 1.

1.Did the RC Church conscientiously try to hide the Bible from the people - and if so what might have been their motivation?
Read chapter 1 and concentrate on the question posed above before we move on to the questions concerning the Authorized King James Bible

Tyndale "... despised the tyranny of the papal Church, showing his contempt by referring to its priesthood as scribes and Pharisees."Moreover, because the kingdom of heaven, which is the scripture and word of God, may be so locked up, that he which readeth or heareth it, cannot understand it: as Christ testifieth how the Scribes and the Pharisees had so shut it up (Matt 23) and had taken away the key of knowledge (Luke 11) that their Jews which thought themselves within, were yet so locked out, and are to this day that they can understand no sentence of the scripture unto salvation, though they can rehearse the texts everywhere and dispute thereof as subtly as the popish doctors of dunce's dark learning, which with their sophistry, served us, as the Pharisees did the Jews…"     (Tyndale’s New Testament, preface 1534)

Some of my thoughts:
1. My definition of religion... "A lot of man made rules and regulations to control people."
2 For some time I have asked myself if man has intentionally interpreted the Word of God to suit his own purposes. For instance, where in Scripture can one justify the present day church structure?  Hire a Pastor (pref errably one who has graduated from "cemetery" and make him basically the CEO,CFO and chief of all that happens?
3. Set him upon a pedestal and assume that he will be your spiritual guide and be responsible for the way you lead your life. When my dad was on his death bed he said to me, "Bobby, everything will be alright because I always tried to do what the Priest told me. He was a Roman Catholic and I never remember him reading the Word of God. He did profess Jesus as his Lord and Savior but was convinced that his salvation came through "Holy Mother the Church".
4. I went to a Catholic High School (1956-59 and we were discouraged from reading the Bile on our own - only when Father was present..otherwise we used study guide that taught us the interpretation and rules of the church with an "imprimatur". I once asked about this and was told that we should only study the Bible when Father is present as heresies were started by people who read the Bible on their own.

I guess what I am really asking is, Are we doing "church" wrong? Did Jesus really desire that His Body be ruled over by a hierarchy? Why has the Body of Christ become so divided rather than united with Christ as the head? (John 17:23)Who are the ministers - seminary graduates or the individuals within the Body using the Gifts of the Spirit? (1 Corinthians 11-14)
Nuf Sed
 

I spent 28 years in the Clinical Diagnostics Industry and as Pastor of a small church in upstate NY for 9 years. I have a PhD in Medical Biochemistry and am a Retired Ordained Pastor. The Lord has called me to bring a word to His Body encouraging them to go forth and be what He has prepared them to be. (Ephesians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 12-14 - Spiritual Gifts)
Crying in the Wilderness Ministry exists to help train - equip - and release - the Saints for the work of the ministry.  The Lord has called us to encourage unity in His Body (John 17:20 - 23) and to warn "the called out ones" that He has given them a Great Commission. Often I hear Him say: IF NOT YOU - WHO?  IF NOT NOW - WHEN?
I am here to hear what the Lord is saying to His people and to learn from others in the Body of Christ.
I chose the name DUH because so often we miss the obvious in God's Word. When I was first born again in 1976 a friend and man of God told me,"Bob, remember faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God not by reading commentaries." We have been given the Holy Spirit to reveal to us the truth - not that all commentaries are bad but we must be like the Bereans and check everything with the Word and God and with His Holy Spirit.
Nuf Said