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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
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Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
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Encyclical
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INFOTEXT
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1992-09-02
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A letter addressed by the pope to Roman
Catholic bishops for the benefit of the
people. The first was issued by Benedict XIV
in 1740, but encyclicals became common only
in the 19th century. They may be doctrinal
(condemning errors), exhortative
(recommending devotional activities), or
commemorative. Recent encyclicals include
Pacem in terris (Pope John XXIII, 1963),
Sacerdotalis celibatus (on the celibacy of
the clergy, Pope Paul VI, 1967), and Humanae
vitae (Pope Paul VI, 1967, on methods of
contraception).