| Inter praecipuas | |
| Type: | Encyclical |
| Pope: | Gregory XVI |
| Language Of Title: | Latin |
| Translation Of Title: | Among the major |
| Signature Date: | 8 May 1844 |
| Subject: | Church and state |
| Number: | 9 of 9 |
| Web En: | https://www.papalencyclicals.net/greg16/g16inter.htm |
| Before: | Inter ea |
Latin: Inter praecipuas machinationes, or On Biblical Societies, was an encyclical issued by Pope Gregory XVI on 8 May 1844, condemning Protestant translations of the Bible.
Following the examples of Pius VII, Leo XII, and Pius VIII, Gregory condemns Bible societies for their distribution of unapproved Bible editions.[1] He accuses the Christian League, in New York, of "inciting sedition",[2] converting Catholic Italian immigrants to Protestantism by encouraging them to form their own interpretations of the Bible.[3]
Many American Protestants saw Gregory's position as conceding that Catholic doctrines were unbiblical.[4] Protestant groups like the Plymouth Brethren took the encyclical as evidence that Catholic countries were in need of their missionary labor.[5]