http://www.bestcatholicbible.com/page/425479612 The Church has always acknowledged literal, word-for-word translation as the way to translate the Bible. Up until the 20th century no other method was even considered. In 2001, under Blessed John Paul II, the Vatican issued an official Instruction, Liturgiam authenticam, which made its desire explicit: no fewer than five times does it call for literal translation of liturgical texts.