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September 11, 2005
Permission Requested
Clayton Emmer has a blogpost on the news that the Podcaster at Verbum Domini, who provides a daily podcast of the lectionary readings, has been told by the USCCB, whichholds the copyrights on the New American Bible translation (used in the lectionary), to cease and desist.
This, of course, is why so many Catholic books do not use the NAB in citing Scripture. I write for one publisher - The Living Faith quarterly devotional - that utilizes the NAB. Both OSV and Loyola prefer the use of either the RSV or the NRSV - no permissions or fees required for use.
On one level, there is a reasonable rationale for this. This is the "official" version of the Bible for the Church in the US, and it is in the bishops' best interest to have control over the use of this translation.
It is also perhaps in their best interest - of another kind - to have control so there is not a proliferation of liturgical materials that are printed and sold with no um...benefit to the USCCB.
Some of our readers in Catholic publishing might have more to say about this. I'm not quite sure what recourse or type of license this podcaster could seek from the USCCB to use the translation for this purpose, which of course, is totally non-profit. All I know is that Catholic publishers, as a rule, don't use official U.S. Catholic translation of Scripture because of the hassle and expense of getting permissions. (an interesting unintended consequence. But given the quality of the translation...perhaps a good unintended consequence?) It would be more understandable (if not totally) if, say the USCCB Office of Communications had their own podcasts of the daily readings which they were distributing free of charge as a means of evangelization.
Which, of course, they're not.
Later:
There is no secret about permissions policies to use various Bible translations (which, in answer to a commentor, are all copyrighted, of course.) The issues is that the NAB permissions policy is much narrower than most others.
You can read it here. Any use of any segment of the translation, no matter how brief, must be approved.
Here's the permissions policy for the NRSV, by contrast. You can use up to 500 verses without permission, providing that the Scripture content does not comprise an entire book or more than 50% of the entire work in which it is quoted. The NIV guidelines are similar.
So you see the sticking point that makes it much more of a hassle is having to get USCCB permission for even quoting one stickin' verse. Sure, it's pro forma, but in the context of a business with a million details to tend to, one less is...one less.
Update:
Commentor Rick points out the ultimate irony below: Even the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (published by the USCCB) uses the RSV and NRSV, not the NAB, for Scriptural citations. That's pretty funny, although I'm wondering if the reason is that a "new" NAB translation has been in the works for ages, with word every six months that it's coming soon, really soon...so it was thought best not to saddle the CCC with Scripture quotes from a soon to be obsolete translation..
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» The Great Commission, © 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C., usque ad consummationem saeculi from in illo tempore
Why the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops presents a target rich environment: a podcaster can't use the New American Bible translation of the Daily Readings.In other news, Experts say Catholics still don't read Bible regularly. [Read More]
Tracked on Sep 11, 2005 5:04:45 PM
» American Catholic Bishops: Stop Reading from the Bible from Agnosticism/Atheism
This is a very interesting case: a Catholic who created a podcast of the the daily scripture readings from the Catholic Lectionary has gotten a quick "cease and desist" letter for violating copyright. That's right, reading the Bible to others... [Read More]
Tracked on Sep 17, 2005 8:19:18 AM
Comments
So someone tries to build up God's people, and this is the thanks he gets.
Posted by: Jason at Sep 11, 2005 4:06:08 PM
So someone tries to build up God's people without greasing the right palms, and this is the thanks he gets.
Posted by: Mike L at Sep 11, 2005 4:13:07 PM
I'm not surprised.
The USCCB is releasing the new Compendium of the Catechism this year. The *paperback* version, supposedly only around 200 or so pages, is priced at something like $16.00.
That's absurd! The printing cost should easily be under $1.00. Seems to me if educating the people was the primary motive of the USCCB, they'd offer it for no more than a little above cost at the most.
It's no wonder people leave the Church.
Posted by: Tim at Sep 11, 2005 4:27:05 PM
Yes, ditto for the music in the missalettes--all copyrighted. It's why the words change all the time. Big, big, $$$$$$$, all permitted, heck, promoted by the USCCB.
I think trying to copyright the Bible is ridiculous, even if it is only one translation of it. Grasping bureaucrats.
I think we'd ought to all scratch up a different (AND BETTER) copy of the Bible and insist on singing copyright-free songs. Xerox machines RULE.
Posted by: michigancatholic at Sep 11, 2005 4:45:15 PM
BTW, you do know, I trust, that the problems the Vatican had with the NAB have not been resolved. There are other better translations out there, and they're free.
Posted by: michigancatholic at Sep 11, 2005 4:46:54 PM
Bad thought. Suppose the USCCB learned from the CCC that Catholic laypeople have brains enough to cut and paste paragraphs into documents and blogs. Maybe they don't want this on the net? This ought to be fun to watch. Hope they have a lot of lawyers with nothing to do....heh.
Posted by: michigancatholic at Sep 11, 2005 4:49:04 PM
Just as well. I cannot think of one dynamic orthodox Catholic author who prefers ar recommends the NAB. The RSV is far superior, which may be the reason why Ignatius Press felt compelled to reprint it.
Doe sthe USCCB ever support good, orthodox teaching ministries if the Vatican is not holding its feet to the fire?
Posted by: Joe at Sep 11, 2005 5:34:52 PM
Evangelization might spoil things for a lot a people on the payroll who have set up a cushioned ride and landing on the organizational death spiral.
Or as I was once taken aside and told, the real parish policy is against evangelization because more people might overburden the staff.
Posted by: Terrence Berres at Sep 11, 2005 5:51:52 PM
I had a website (and I may yet bring it back to life...) based on the Liturgical Calendar. I had a link to the NAB from the USCCB site. I was asked to have the link to the NAB open in a new window, not in a frame as I had it. I wrote them in advance to check what their policy was and got a quick reply: no frames, webmaster.
Posted by: tony c at Sep 11, 2005 5:53:16 PM
Pray that we can have an faithful, clear, elegant translation of Sacred Scripture in English that will be a blessing to us for many generations. Think of the impact the King James Bible has had. We can do this -- it would be an awesome legacy.
Posted by: Septimus at Sep 11, 2005 5:54:30 PM
It would be hard for someone hostile to the USCCB to make a characterization of it that is as damaging as many of its own actions.
One might almost suggest that it's intentional. But, we know better. It's a typical bureaucracy.
Posted by: B Knotts at Sep 11, 2005 6:56:29 PM
"On one level, there is a reasonable rationale for this."
Bull****! That one level is control and it is the basest of impulses to think that you can control access to Scripture.
The bishops would rather think themselves to be in control than they would think themselves to be servants of God's people.
Posted by: Jim at Sep 11, 2005 7:38:40 PM
Pray that we can have an faithful, clear, elegant translation of Sacred Scripture in English that will be a blessing to us for many generations.
It's called the Douay-Rheims. ;)
Posted by: dcs at Sep 11, 2005 7:40:54 PM
A podcast of the daily readings from the Jerusalem Bible, Knox Bible, RSV, or Challoner would be worth the download. The NAB is an embarassment. The USCCB has done the podcaster a big favor.
Posted by: Keith R at Sep 11, 2005 7:42:50 PM
Just one more reason to dislike the vernacular liturgy. Last time I looked St. Jerome was not charging for his version of Scripture.
Posted by: David Kubiak at Sep 11, 2005 7:49:23 PM
Our diocesian newspaper just published a by the DRE, PhD that quotes the DNC as saying "the single most critical factor in an effective parish catedhetical program is the leadership of a professionally trained, competent and qualified parish catechetical leader" (NDC p224). It does not seem to be critical that the the leadership be spiritual, just professionally trained. This sounds more and more like "leave the rescue work to the professionals who are paid to do that job." That would leave Christ, Peter, and Paul out since they never attended a Rabinical College.
The article also says that "The NDC is a must have everyone in catechesis or Catholic education -- pastors, teachers, principals, directors and coordinators of religious education, youth ministers, catechists, and all adults in the field." And you can get it in English for only $20.00. Spanish translation will be out soon.
Oh yes, we should also attend deanery and diocesan events on a regular basis so we can get to know each other.
Posted by: Mike L at Sep 11, 2005 7:51:21 PM
Actually, Paul and Christ were professionals. Hence the rabbi and doctor of the law bit.
And spiritualness is worthless if you don't know what you're doing.
Posted by: Paul Druce at Sep 11, 2005 8:12:53 PM
Nothing against the Douay-Rheims, but it does not strike me as either clear or elegant. And--call me whatever names you like, but--translating from the original languages seems like a good idea. (The Douay-Rheims was from Latin, as I recall.)
Posted by: Septimus at Sep 11, 2005 8:24:02 PM
Paul Druce
I have never heard of Christ getting a Ph D
from any professional group. I admit that Paul might have.
Since spiritualness is worthless, maybe we should hire all the FEMA workers who have been professionally trained?
Just pick up your $20 book and go save the Catholic Church. No wonder the Church is having its problems.
Posted by: Mike L at Sep 11, 2005 9:05:54 PM
I thought individual translations of Scripture were copyrighted in order to protect their integrity from unauthorized editing and redistribution. Although some unauthorized editing might do the NAB some good. The example always at the top of my mind is Deut 6:7, "Drill them into your children." An unfortunate/humorous image compared to the RSV's and KJV's "teach them diligently".
Posted by: Bill White at Sep 11, 2005 9:32:03 PM
The NAB really is an embarrassment. Today's Gospel reading in Matthew 18 says "seventy-seven times" rather than the familiar "seventy times seven times". Likewise the vast contrast of ten thousand talents to a measly hundred denarii is characterized in the NAB as a large amount vs. a lesser amount. It really amounts to robbing the people of the words of Christ.
Posted by: Robert Simmons at Sep 11, 2005 10:16:30 PM
I think the main reason so many Catholic books don't use the NAB is that it's generally regarded as one of the shoddiest translations of scripture on the market. Who would even want a copyright of it?
Posted by: Simon at Sep 11, 2005 10:29:00 PM
The Douay-Rheims is available online:
http://www.drbo.org/
I believe that it is public domain. Even with the archaisms the English is more attractive. The base functionality of the new translations borders on irreverence. I love the D-R but I honestly don't think that we are about to see a D-R revival any time soon. Most people would react to it just as they would to the Vulgate--confusion and fear followed by a belief that they're on Candid Camera.
Posted by: reluctant penitent at Sep 11, 2005 10:36:29 PM
Is it really true that the RSV and NRSV are not under copyright? That seems implausible.
Posted by: James Kabala at Sep 11, 2005 10:38:04 PM
An example (3 Kings 2)
1 And the days of David drew nigh that he should die, and he charged his son Solomon, saying: 2 I am going the way of all flesh: take thou courage, and shew thyself a man. 3 And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and observe his ceremonies, and his precepts, and judgments, and testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses: that thou mayest understand all thou dost, and whithersoever thou shalt turn thyself: 4 That the Lord may confirm his words, which he hath spoken of me, saying: If thy children shall take heed to their ways, and shall walk before me in truth, with all their heart, and with all their soul, there shall not be taken away from thee a man on the throne of Israel.
Posted by: reluctant penitent at Sep 11, 2005 10:40:40 PM
