LEADING Free Presbyterian ministers –vocal critics of the Roman Catholic Church – have backed TV Bible readings, similar to those launched by the Pope on Sunday.The week–long special programme is called The Bible Day and Night.
Over the week, the entire Bible, will be read by more than 1,200 clergymen, footballers, politicians and members of the public, relayed across Italy after RAI, the state broadcaster, tore up its schedules.
But another Free Presbyterian Minister, the Rev David McIlveen conceded it was unlikely TV broadcasters here would drop their schedules for a week.
As well as Roman Catholics – Protestants, Jews and members of the Orthodox Church are participating in the massive project.
Despite Dr Paisley's caustic critiques of the Roman Catholic Church – which once saw him thrown out of the European Parliament for denouncing the Pope as "antichrist", the former first minister said he would be delighted to hear the Bible read on television.
Speaking to the News Letter from London yesterday, Dr Paisley said: "I would certainly be all for reading the authorised (King James) version publicly.
"It is the Bible standing alone which is the religion of Protestants.
"Any reading of the Scripture is something that I approve of but unfortunately the Roman Catholic Church draws a line upon the Scriptures in that they are the only interpreter of the Scriptures.
"Exposure to the word of God is something to be welcomed," he said.
Dr Paisley has preached at lunchtime on a Friday in the open air outside Belfast City Hall for almost 25 years, as well as delivering regular sermons in his Martyrs Memorial Church in east Belfast – even when he was first minister.
Showing he hasn't softened his criticism of the Catholic hierarchy, though his language may have mellowed, Dr Paisley added: "The interpretation that the Pope gives of certain Scriptures is in my opinion contrary to the Scriptures themselves."
Careful to stress he was not taking his lead from the Vatican, the Rev David McIlveen said he thought many people would be keen to hear the words of the Bible in a time of financial chaos.
"When people hear that the Church of Rome is reading the Bible, we have to make it clear that from the Protestant perspective, there are major differences between the version of the Bible they read – the (English translation) Douay Version – and the Authorised Version, but the central message is still that 'the just shall live by faith', which was what the Reformation centred around.
"However, the reading of the Scriptures on television would be a very good thing – it would be a change from a lot of the corruption and pollution that are so often transmitted through television screens today."
And the Rev McIlveen, who listens to recordings of the Bible as well as regularly reading it, said that the language of the classic 1610 King James translation of the Hebrew and Greek texts was "uniquely appealing", even to those who are not believers.
It is something that has a very distinctive, powerful, quality about it – you find yourself drawn to read more – it is a wonderful book."
But he acknowledged it was doubtful the broadcasts would become a fixture here.
"To be blunt, I think it's unlikely, but I do believe they would capture an audience.
"Who knows what good could come out of that, because in the Bible you have all the ethical, moral, social, economic, political issues that are relevant to people today.
"I think that in the current financial situation, people would be much more open to hearing the Bible read."
But local broadcasters poured cold water on the concept. A spokeswoman for the BBC said: "BBC Northern Ireland has no plans to do anything similar".
And a spokeswoman for UTV also said it did not envisage broadcasting extended Bible readings.
This was something perhaps "better suited to a specialist broadcaster."
As well as Roman Catholics – Protestants, Jews and members of the Orthodox Church are participating in the massive project.
Despite Dr Paisley’s caustic critiques of the Roman Catholic Church – which once saw him thrown out of the European Parliament for denouncing the Pope as “antichrist”, the former first minister said he would be delighted to hear the Bible read on television.
Speaking to the News Letter from London yesterday, Dr Paisley said: “I would certainly be all for reading the authorised (King James) version publicly.
“It is the Bible standing alone which is the religion of Protestants.
“Any reading of the Scripture is something that I approve of but unfortunately the Roman Catholic Church draws a line upon the Scriptures in that they are the only interpreter of the Scriptures.
“Exposure to the word of God is something to be welcomed,” he said.
Dr Paisley has preached at lunchtime on a Friday in the open air outside Belfast City Hall for almost 25 years, as well as delivering regular sermons in his Martyrs Memorial Church in east Belfast – even when he was first minister.
Showing he hasn’t softened his criticism of the Catholic hierarchy, though his language may have mellowed, Dr Paisley added: “The interpretation that the Pope gives of certain Scriptures is in my opinion contrary to the Scriptures themselves.”
Careful to stress he was not taking his lead from the Vatican, the Rev David McIlveen said he thought many people would be keen to hear the words of the Bible in a time of financial chaos.
“When people hear that the Church of Rome is reading the Bible, we have to make it clear that from the Protestant perspective, there are major differences between the version of the Bible they read – the (English translation) Douay Version – and the Authorised Version, but the central message is still that ‘the just shall live by faith’, which was what the Reformation centred around.
“However, the reading of the Scriptures on television would be a very good thing – it would be a change from a lot of the corruption and pollution that are so often transmitted through television screens today.”
And the Rev McIlveen, who listens to recordings of the Bible as well as regularly reading it, said that the language of the classic 1610 King James translation of the Hebrew and Greek texts was “uniquely appealing”, even to those who are not believers.
It is something that has a very distinctive, powerful, quality about it – you find yourself drawn to read more – it is a wonderful book.”
But he acknowledged it was doubtful the broadcasts would become a fixture here.
“To be blunt, I think it’s unlikely, but I do believe they would capture an audience.
“Who knows what good could come out of that, because in the Bible you have all the ethical, moral, social, economic, political issues that are relevant to people today.
“I think that in the current financial situation, people would be much more open to hearing the Bible read.”
But local broadcasters poured cold water on the concept. A spokeswoman for the BBC said: “BBC Northern Ireland has no plans to do anything similar”.
And a spokeswoman for UTV also said it did not envisage broadcasting extended Bible readings.
This was something perhaps “better suited to a specialist broadcaster.”
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(Source: BNUK)