The Catholic Youth Bible: New Revised Standard Version: Catholic Edition

Rating:
Summary: Ehhh...
Review: This is an ok Bible for very young Catholics. There is a wonderful collection of maps and images in the back. For a "youth" over 14, the notes and commentaries seem condescending and childish. Some of the notes were interesting, but irrelevant. My biggest gripe with this particular version is not the notes themselves but the gender-inclusive language used in the NRSV translation. For anyone wondering why this is a problem this means that the translaters ALTERED the Word of God to make certain passsages more "politically correct". There are also translations where the opposite is true, where the original langage was gender-ambiguous and it was rendered gender-specific. In addition, this bible strives so much to be politically correct that it gives the reader a skewed view of the Bible in relation to the Church. In addition, the casual nature of the Bible doesn't foster the idea of reverence for scripture as the inspired Word of God. Sadly, I cannot recommend a better Catholic Youth Bible, as the only other one is printed by the same company but with the New American Bible translation, which is unfortunately, the one used in the liturgy but is so erroneous that the versions used for the liturgy had to be corrected! If it is not all that importnat that it be a Youth Bible, I recommend the Revised Standard Version: Catholic edition, or the New Jeruslem Bible, which only uses inclusive language when the original languages allow it(with one exception: in the ten commandments).

Rating:
Summary: This is the NRSV.
Review: This is the New Revised Standard Version, which the Holy See does not allow for use in the liturgy. Catholics wanting to use approved translations should consider the New American Bible-- St. Joseph Ed. and the New Jerusalem Bible-- Regular Ed., both of which include copious footnotes and commentaries.

Rating:
Summary: Good Bible, too much politics
Review: Why are there pages after pages highlighting "African Americans," "Asian Americans," and "Native Americans"? When did the Catholic Church decide to be politically correct and make sure all these groups stand out and be inserted artificially? I have nothing against them. I just wonder what prompted the insertion of a polytheistic culture into the Catholic bible. Can't we all discuss the bible without labeling each other "this American" and "that American." I'm Irish -- a group highly persecuted 19th-early 20th century. I believe they also have something to do with Catholicism... yet I find no mention of this group or many others. The other reviews point out the good aspects of this bible. So I will not reiterate them here. There were many of course. But there are not enough to prompt me to support this mockery.