my translation of Sacred Scripture

Posted on 29 July 2010 by Ron Conte

From March 14th of 2004 to March 28th of 2009, just over 5 years, I spent nearly every day working on a new translation of the Bible. The source text was the Clementine Vulgate, the primary Latin version of the Bible in the Church for almost 400 years. My translation used the Challoner version of the Douay Bible as a guide. My approach was to translate the Latin fairly literally, and without inclusive language, or political correctness. The Old Testament was translated in the light of the New Testament. Both Testaments were translated in the light of the Roman Catholic Faith. My translation pays attention to both the literal/figurative level of meaning, and the spiritual level of meaning.

I have placed the entire translation, called the Catholic Public Domain Version (CPDV) in the public domain. Anyone may use it, publish it online or in print, edit it, make a new version based on it, as they see fit, without permission or restriction. The version is free from copyright and trademark and other restrictions. It is my gift to the Church and to the world.

I have heard from some of my fellow Catholics that they like the CPDV, and that they use it in private study and devotion. I have been encouraged by many persons, Catholic and some Protestant, in my work translating the Bible.

What I don’t understand is why some of my brothers and sisters in Christ, fellow Catholics not Protestants, treat this translation with disdain, and speak as if my work translating the Bible should be counted against me, as if it were an offense. (More on this point in subsequent posts.)

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theologians imitate the Doctors of the Church

Posted on 20 July 2010 by Ron Conte

We are all called to imitate God, and Christ, and the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the Saints.

[Matthew]
{5:48} Therefore, be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect.

[1 Corinthians]
{11:1} Be imitators of me, as I also am of Christ.

But in a particular way, theologians are called to imitate the great Doctors of the Church. In this context, the word ‘doctor’ means ‘teacher’. The Doctors of the Church are Her best teachers. Every theologian should have the goal to be like the Doctors of the Church, to both live and teach the Faith, just as each of them did.

The Universal Church includes all the holy Angels and all the Elect in Heaven, who have the Beatific Vision of God. The Universal Church includes the holy souls in Purgatory, who no longer sin at all. The Church has Jesus as Her head, and the Holy Spirit as Her spirit. The teachings of the infallible Sacred Deposit of Faith (Tradition and Scripture) are guarded within the bosom of the Church. So in one sense, the Church does not need anyone to teach Her.

But the Universal Church includes very many persons on earth, the formal members who know that they are children of the Church, along with many members who are in a state of grace despite not knowing that they are members of the Church. The Universal Church includes very many persons who are sinners, whose knowledge is limited, whose lives could benefit greatly from a deeper understanding of the truths and the mysteries of God.

The goal of every theologian should be to teach the faithful on earth, just as the great Doctors of the Church taught them (and continue to teach them), with simplicity and clarity, with love, faith, hope, and all the virtues, by word and by example. It is a daunting task that is impossible to fulfill without the grace and providence of God.

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my qualifications

Posted on 18 July 2010 by Ron Conte

My qualifications as a Roman Catholic theologian

I am a baptized and confirmed Roman Catholic, who believes and practices the Catholic Faith.

I have a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and theology (a double major) from Boston College, magna cum laude.

I am the author of over 150 articles of theology on dogmatic theology, moral theology, marital sexual ethics, soteriology, Mariology, eschatology, and other topics. I have written a series of articles on Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture, and the Magisterium, and a series of articles refuting the doctrinal errors and other false claims of certain alleged private revelations.

I am the author of six books of theology —
three on eschatology:
1. The Bible and the Future of the World
2. The Secrets of Medjugorje and Garabandal Revealed
3. The First Part of the Tribulation

one on moral theology:
4. The Catechism of Catholic Ethics: A work of Roman Catholic moral theology

one on Biblical chronology:
5. Important Dates in the Lives of Jesus and Mary

one on speculative theology about the Trinity and about the Virgin Mary:
6. New Insights into the Deposit of Faith

I worked on some of the Deuterocanonical books for the World English Bible Project:
Tobit, Judith, Esther (Greek), Baruch, Jeremiah’s Letter, Daniel (Greek).

I was a proof-reader for the Tweedale edition of the Clementine Vulgate (London, 2005).

I also produced my own edit of the Clementine Vulgate, completed in 2009.

I am the sole translator and editor of the Catholic Public Domain Version (CPDV) of the Sacred Bible, which I translated from the Pope Sixtus V and Pope Clement VIII Latin Vulgate using the Challoner Douay version as a guide. The Catholic Public Domain Version adheres to the Vatican Norms for Bible Translation. The CPDV is a fairly literal translation, which does not impose inclusive language or political correctness on the text. The Old Testament was translated in the light of the New Testament, and both Testaments were translated in the light of Roman Catholic teaching. I have placed my translation entirely in the public domain.

I continue to write commentary on Sacred Scripture, and to make my commentary available online.

I am currently working on another book of eschatology, The Second Part of the Tribulation, and on a series of articles analyzing the Nova Vulgata Bible.

I continue to lead discussions of dogmatic, moral, and speculative theology, and an online Bible study, in my discussion group: CatholicPlanet.Net

But even if I had none of the above qualifications,
I would still be a Roman Catholic theologian for this one reason:
I have been writing Catholic theology nearly every day for many years,
and I continue to do so.

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