[HarleyD]

As is typical, the author leaves out most of the story. The reason Bibles were chained up was because before the printing press, Bibles were very expensive to produce,

I don't think the author left out "most of the story". Everyone knows before the printing press Bibles were expensive. I feel the author should talk more about the Renaissances and the humanism that was sweeping the Church but so far he hasn't. This is a 20 page article and there is only so much one can talk about at this time.

[HarleyD]

Addedum: It should be also pointed out in the eight century the Catholic Church mandated Bibles be only in the Latin Vulgate format. Latin was only taught through the Church. Even if the Bible would have found its way into the hands of the masses, many of them wouldn't have been able to read it.