The New American Bible has accomplished this in response to the need of the church in America today. It is the achievement of some 50 biblical scholars, the greater number of whom, though not all, are Catholics. In particular, the editors-in-chief have devoted 25 years to this work. The collaboration of scholars who are not Catholic fulfills the directive of the Second Vatican Council, not only that "correct translations be made into different languages especially from the original texts of the sacred books", but that, "with the approval of the church authority, these translations be produced in cooperation with separated brothers" so that "all Christians may be able to use them".