Secular Clergy (Lat. clerus secularis ).—In the language of religious the world (saeculum) is opposed to the cloister; religious who follow a rule, especially those who have been ordained, form the regular clergy, while those who live in the world are called the secular clergy. Hence the expression so frequently used in canonical texts: “uterque clerus”, both secular and regular clergy.

SECULAR CLERGY Clergy who are engaged for the most part in pastoral work and who are not members of a religious institute. They are not bound by …

Secular clergy. Christian priests who live in the world (Lat., saeculum ), as distinguished from members of religious communities who live according to a rule (‘regular clergy’). They are not bound by vows and may possess property, and they owe obedience to their bishops. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions

The secular clergy, in which the hierarchy essentially resides, always takes precedence of the regular clergy of equal rank; the latter is not essential to the Church nor can it subsist by itself, being dependent on bishops for ordination. (See CLERIC; REGULARS .)

The term secular clergy refers to deacons and priests who are not monastics or members of a religious institute. They are referred to also as the diocesan or sometimes as …

Secular clergy included chaplains who worked at universities, hospitals, monasteries, and other institutions. In the sixteenth century, no indigenous or African people joined the church. The Spanish Crown preferred the secular clergy over the regular clergy in colonial New Spain.

Secular Clergy: Reform and Reaction Simplicity and Celibacy. The eleventh-century clerical reforms directed by the papacy called for a new discipline among secular priests. Proponents of reform stressed simplicity of lifestyle and singular dedication (including celibacy), as well as the need to break ties with secular interests and worldliness.

Churches are required to classify each person that is hired as either a secular or clergy employee. This is a very crucial step in the hiring process. Clergy are taxed differently than secular employees and this treatment is mandated by law. It isn’t optional, so it is important to know who qualifies as secular or clergy status.

Secular —or better, diocesan —priests are priests who are ordained for a particular diocese and who serve ordinarily in parishes. This is their main work, although some are engaged in other ministries as well. At their ordination as deacons they incardinate (affiliate) with a particular diocese or archdiocese.