Response:

This is my personal experience. I know that some have had somewhat different experiences. All I can say to that is that the unfortunate experience of some in no way reflects the experience of all, or even most Catholics. Nor does it reflect the official stance of the Church. I have a copy of an old 1950 Holy Trinity Catholic bible, that in the preface, and in the welcome letter specifically urge all Catholics to read their bible daily. There is a large section as to why we should read the bible daily, and the benefits gained.

I never heard of this idea that Catholics don't read he bible, until recently, from Protestants, who, for the most part, had never set foot in a Catholic church... as a born Catholic, in my entire 36 years, I have had nothing but encouragement to read my bible. No member of the Catholic church, from priest to parishioner, has ever tried to dissuade me. I know many do NOT read their bible daily, but that is a personal choice, not a mandate from the church.

My mother is 60 years old, so I asked her if there was ever a time that she knew of, when the bible was not openly and overtly encouraged within the Catholic church, and she laughed and asked me what "weird" people I'd been talking to. I explained it to her, and she very simply said "no". That in her entire life, she'd always been encouraged, openly, from the pulpit and in conversation with church members, been encouraged to read the bible daily. She'd never heard of any custom of not reading the bible, either.