Q407 – Are Catholics allowed to use the King James Bible?

Interview Organization: Confraternity of Our Lady of Fatima
Interviewer Name: Christopher P. Wendt
Date: November 13, 2025
Bishop Schneider says the Bible mentioned is likely Protestant, which may omit certain Old Testament books accepted by Catholics. He advises using a Catholic translation, preferably from the Vulgate, or another solid Catholic edition. He adds that good Catholic translations can also be accessed through smartphone applications.
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Well, I assume that this is a Protestant Bible. The Protestant Bibles do not have the same books as the Catholic ones. For example, some books of the Old Testament are not accepted. So it depends on whether this edition has all the books, even the so-called deuterocanonical books, which are our canonical books. Then you can use it, but it also depends on the quality of the translation. I think it is better to use a Catholic translation from the Vulgata, made from the Vulgata, or a solid Catholic edition.

But you know, today, when you use your smartphone, in an application, you can find a good Catholic translation of the Bible, and it fits in your pocket when you go out, because you have to have a connection, a wireless connection. Or at home, you can also read it on your smartphone or a similar device.

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