Yes, Catholics believe the Bible is the inspired word of God and therefore true. However, it's important to understand how Catholics approach biblical truth:
* Inspiration and Interpretation: Catholics believe the Bible is divinely inspired, meaning God guided the human authors to write what he intended. However, they also recognize that the Bible was written in specific historical and cultural contexts. Therefore, proper interpretation requires understanding these contexts and considering different literary genres.
* Tradition and Scripture: Catholics believe that Scripture and Sacred Tradition together form the single deposit of faith. Sacred Tradition includes the teachings and practices passed down from the apostles, which help to interpret and understand Scripture. The Church's Magisterium (teaching authority), guided by the Holy Spirit, has the role of authentically interpreting both Scripture and Tradition.
* Literal vs. Deeper Meaning: While Catholics acknowledge the literal meaning of the text, they also recognize that some passages may have deeper, symbolic, or allegorical meanings. They use principles of interpretation developed over centuries to understand the full meaning of the text.
* Inerrancy: The Catholic Church teaches that the Bible is inerrant in matters of faith and morals, meaning it contains no errors in what it affirms to be true concerning salvation. This doesn't necessarily mean that every historical or scientific detail is presented with modern precision.
So, in summary, Catholics believe the Bible is true, but their understanding of its truth is nuanced and involves careful interpretation within the context of Sacred Tradition and the Church's teaching authority.