The ‘Splainer: What is an encyclical?

David Gibson





(RNS) When Al Smith ran for president in 1928, his status as the first Catholic to head a major party ticket was challenged on the basis that he would have to follow papal encyclicals, not the U.S. Constitution.

“What the hell is an encyclical?” Smith reportedly replied when the matter was brought to his attention.

A friendly priest helped Smith craft a response (and Herbert Hoover won the race), but the term is still likely to elicit quizzical expressions even from diligent Catholics — and that’s in spite of the enormous prepublication buzz surrounding Pope Francis’ new encyclical on the environment.

http://www.religionnews.com/2015/06/15/splainer-encyclical/