What if...?
What if the USCCB offered the Bible via an API so programmers/iPhone App developers/web developers could query a verse or chapter for display/search?
What if the Vatican offered better searching, indexing, and referencing for their vast library of Papal encyclicals, Church Council documents, and other other messages?
What if the USCCB offered, perhaps, some sort of 'widget' for displaying a random bible quote, the day's readings (or a blurb from said readings), and other Bible-related topics on people's blogs, websites, etc.?
I really hope these kinds of things become reality, and sooner rather than later. Does anyone know if these kinds of issues are even on the radar?
I'd also like to find out more about how our Church is working towards the lofty goals set forth in Inter Mirifica, the letters for the World Day of Communication each year, etc., besides implementing a YouTube channel and Facebook app. I'll volunteer time to help accomplish some of these goals—can't we bring some of these projects into the 'open source' sphere? The dogmas of the Church are not 'open source,' but couldn't the technologies be more so?
Comments
While the USCCB and the Vatican aren't yet doing what you're pondering about (as far as I know), you might want to check out The Faith Database which seems to be exactly what you're looking for.
For $40, the program is incredible. The Catechism, all of the papal documents and classical Christian writings are linked to particular verses of scripture, and everything is searchable.
Check it out at FaithDatabase.com (I have no ties to them; I just think it's an awesome product).
It is very difficult to keep up with the information age when the only two authorized Bibles for the US (NAB & RSV-CE) are locked down under Copyrights.
I've been asking the very same questions for years now. I'd love to see an open API for not only sacred scripture, but church documents like Vatican II, Papal Encyclicals, the CCC and the CCCC.
I've thought about doing a web scrape and creating the API myself, but I'm concerned about the copyright issue, and having to possibly deal with a lawsuit just for trying to make the faith more accessible.
You're not the only one struggling with the decision to try to make things more accessible vs. avoiding copyright issues ;-)
Advancing the faith.
At one point in time I emailed nabperm@usccb.org with questions regarding permissions using the NAB (CE). Of course I cant find it now, but I was asking because I was hoping on making a Joomla component to do something like this. I think the reply was something along the lines of put a proposal together and sent it over for exactly what I wanted to do, but that is as far as I went with it.
http://www.usccb.org/nab/permissions.shtml
If I find it, I will post it. But as to the USCCB creating APIs themselves, well... fat chance. Its a big bureaucracy of red tape.
I've now sent two emails asking for more information... so far, no response. I will continue to beat a few drums where I can concerning this issue :-/
[Edit: I have received a reply... let's just say it's encouraging.]
Advancing the faith.
Cool!
Sorry I can't divulge more on this yet... but I know that there will be much rejoicing sooner rather than later :-)
Advancing the faith.
8^D
!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, some of this issue is about copyright for the USCCB regarding use of the NAB translation. But it's also about a Catholic understanding of scripture: we, as Catholics, do not read scripture w/out proper understanding and instruction. So, unlike many other Christians, we do not see the Word of God as separate from Mother Church. Thus, scripture is not something we do alone with our own understanding. Thus, USCCB wants to protect the dissemination and use of the NAB translation. Yes, it does limits its use but, too some extent, that is the point.
http://twitter.com/BarbaraKB
http://twitter.com/CatholicMeme
Here here, was hoping to create android/iphone application that help Catholics read bible, daily reading, daily prayer, etc... but stumbled on license issue. While all the other protestants are happily spreading their KJV love. Come on CHURCH!
I have the Douay-Rheims text if you want it, it is free of any license, I want to recommend New Advent, they have a reworked English version of the Douay-Rheims, you might be able to get them to license it to you for a simple ad on your app directing users to NewAdvent.org?
Contact them at: webmaster@newadvent.org
Here's my latest correspondence on the issue.
I'm really, really hoping that something changes soon. Since I'm no longer working for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, I'm cut off from the channel through which I was having my previous discussion.
I'm hoping that the situation of access to approved Catholic translations of the bible improves as we grow more and more digital.
Do we have the NAB or NRSV on the Kindle? iBooks? App Store, App Marketplace? We need to be there.
Web developer from St. Louis, MO. Personal website: Life is a Prayer.
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