Catholic Bishops Approve 'Gay-Washing' Bible Translation
In 1 Corinthians 6:9, the Greek word "arsenokoitai"—traditionally linked to homosexual practice, i.e., sodomy—is rendered as "men who engage in illicit sex."
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has granted an imprimatur to the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, or NRSVue. The approval permits the translation for private use and study by Catholics, Complicit Clergy reports.
Critics, including respected biblical scholar Robert A.J. Gagnon, accuse the NRSVue of "gay-washing" Scripture by altering key terms. In 1 Corinthians 6:9, the Greek word "arsenokoitai"—traditionally linked to homosexual practice, i.e., sodomy—is rendered as "men who engage in illicit sex." Scholars refer to the NRSVue as the first major modern English translation to omit such connections, fueling accusations that the translation is ideologically biased.
In 2022, when the translation was still in production, a Catholic Answers article urged bishops to intervene via Magisterial authority. However, Friendship Press confirmed no textual changes for the Catholic Edition. The USCCB now lists it as an approved Bible translation, celebrating the milestone amid ongoing controversy.
