Concept
Secular clergy
Overview
In Christianity, the term secular clergy refers to deacons and priests who are not monastics or otherwise members of religious life. Secular priests (sometimes known as diocesan priests) are priests who commit themselves to a certain geographical area and are ordained into the service of the residents of a diocese or equivalent church administrative region. That includes serving the everyday needs of the people in parishes, but their activities are not limited to that of their parish.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
Found by search and not yet checked by a person; they may only mention the idea in passing.
While the Church, in the strict sense of the word, is the "communion of saints" and therefore _one_, yet outwardly it has become divided, in the course of time, into many different churches, denominations, and sects. It contains Four Great Branches: _The Greek Catholic Church_; _The Roman Catholic Church_; _The Evangelical Lutheran Church_; and _The Reformed Churches_, comprising a great number of denominations and…
Martin Luther, An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism
States what Secular clergy is.
Therefore, when St. Peter says here, "ye are the royal priesthood," it is as much as though he had said, "ye are Christians." Would you now know what sort of a title, and authority, and glory, Christians have: you learn it here, that they are kings and priests, and a chosen people.--But what this priest's office is, follows after: _That ye should show forth the praises[2] of Him that hath called you out of darkness…
Martin Luther, The Epistles of St. Peter and St. Jude Preached and Explained
Close in meaning to Secular clergy; the term itself is not named.
We may remark, that the declamations against the secular clergy are, both here and in all the historians, conveyed in general terms; and as that order of men are commonly restrained by the decency of their character, it is difficult to believe that the complaints against their dissolute manners could be so universally just as is pretended. It is more probable that the monks paid court to the populace by an affected…
David Hume, The History of England, Volume I
States what Secular clergy is; opens on Secular clergy.
Philosophers who discussed Secular clergy
Related ideas
- Anglicanism
- London
- Parish
- Pope John Paul II
- Second Vatican Council
- Theology
- Christianity
- Catholic Church
- Poverty
Opposing perspectives
Place in the tradition
Part of Thomism.