Cleric

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Aperson who has been legitimately received into the ranks of the clergy. By clergy in the strict sense is meant the entireecclesiastical hierarchy. Consequently a cleric is one who belongs in some sense to thehierarchy. For this it isnecessary that he have received at least thetonsure. The clergy by Divine right form an order or state which is essentially distinct from that of thelaity. (Conc. Trid., Sess. XXIV, De sac. ord., can. i, 6.) Christ did not commit the preaching of the Gospel and the administration of thesacraments to the faithful in general, but to certain carefully definedpersons, as the Apostles and seventy-two Disciples. They also received the power of governing the flocks; which power is represented by the Keys, a well-known Oriental symbol for authority. That the distinction between clergy andlaity was recognized inNew Testament times is plain fromSt. Paul's statement that thebishops have been placed by theHoly Ghost to rule theChurch (Acts 20:28), for theright to rule implies a correlativeobligation to obey. Presbyters are continually distinguished from thelaity throughout the Pauline Epistles.

The wordcleric (Lat.,clericus fromclerus) is derived from the Greekkleros, a "lot". In theSeptuagint, this word is used in the literal sense quite frequently, though not in its later technical sense. In the First Epistle of St. Peter (v, 3) it is applied to entire body of thefaithful. The use of the word in its present restricted meaning occurs, however, as early as the third century. It is found inTertullian (De idol., c. viii),Origen (Hom. in Jer., xi, 3) andClement of Alexandria (Quis dives salvetur, c. xlii) in this sense. It is not easy to determine exactly how the word came to have its present determinate meaning. The "Pontificale Romanum" refers to clerics as being those whose "lot" is the Lord Himself, andSt. Jerome explicitly derives the name from that fact. These statements do not give us, however, the steps by whichkleros, "lot" became "clergy" or "cleric". Probably the best suggested explanation is, that from lot or portion, it came to mean a particular lot or office assigned to some one, and finally theperson himself possessing the lot or office.

Extension of meaning

Whilecleric in its strict sense means one who has received theecclesiastical tonsure, yet in general sense it is also employed in canon law for all to whom clerical privileges have been extended. Such are the members ofreligious orders: Monks andnuns, and evenlay brothers andnovices. It is also applied to tertiaries of themendicant orders. If they be men, however, they must live in community, but if they bewomen they many enjoy the privilege even when living at home.Hermits and virgins, orcelibates whosevows are approved by thebishop, have likewise clericalimmunities. Members of the militaryreligious orders, such as formerly theKnights Templars, and at present theTeutonic Knights and Knights of Malta, rank as clerics. The meaning of the word has been so extended as to include evenlaics, men orwomen, who render service to a regular community, such as by begging, provided they wear a clerical dress and reside near themonastery orconvent. The privileges enjoyed by thus obtaining thebenefit of clergy were once great (seeIMMUNITY), and were formerly recognized by secular governments. In modern times, however, these privileges in as far as they were guaranteed by thecivil power have been almost entirely swept away in every country of the world. It is only when there is question of favours, or as canonists say, in a favourable sense, that cleric has this wide signification. When there is question of penalties, on the contrary, it becomes so restricted as to mean only the lower orders of thesecular clergy. InEngland inmedieval times the term clerk acquired in common parlance the significance of aneducated man.

Clerical religious orders

Among the regular orders in the strict sense, namely those whose members have solemnvows, is a large class designated as clerks regular (clerici regulares) because living according to a rule (regula). In contradistinction to the monastic orders, theseclerical orders were instituted for the purpose of exercising a ministry similar to that of thesecular clerics, by promotion of the Divine worship and procuring thesalvation ofsouls. Their main object is the spiritual and temporal service of their neighbour ineducating youth, preaching, serving the sick, etc. Orders of clerks regular were first founded in the sixteenth century. To this class belong theJesuits,Theatines,Barnabites, and others. Many religious congregations, which are not orders in the strict sense, such as thePassionists andRedemptorists follow a similar mode of life.

Regionary clerics

Regionary clerics, who are also calledclerici vagantes andacephali, were those who wereordained without title to a special church. They were received into the sacred ministry by thebishops for the purpose of supplying the dearth of the clergy in the outlying districts of thedioceses where nobenefices existed. Here they were to act as missionaries and in course oftime, if possible, to gather together congregations who would build and endow a church. Many of these clerics became mere wanderers without settled occupation or abode, sometimes supporting themselves by filling temporary chaplaincies in the castles of noblemen. In course oftime, numbers of these untitled clerics returned to the settled portions of theirdioceses and acted as assistants to suchbeneficed clergymen as chose to accept their help. Owing to the abuses arising from the unsettled state of these vagrant clerics, theCouncil of Trent (Sess, XXIII, c. xvi, De ref.) forbade the ordaining in future of any candidate who was not attached to a definite church orpious institute.

Obligations of clerics

(1) They must wear a costume suited to their state. While the common canon law does not determine in every detail what the dress of clerics should be, yet many and various prescriptions on the subject are found in the canons, thepontifical constitutions, and the decrees of councils. These ordain that the clerics are not to wear the dress oflaymen. They must abstain from gaudy colours, unbecoming their state. The wearing of the soutane or cassock on all occasions, even in public, is prescribed for clerics living inRome, andbishops may command the same in theirdioceses. In non-Catholic countries, synods generally prescribe that for public use the dress of clerics should be such as to distinguish them fromlaymen; that is of black or of a sober colour, and that the so-called Roman collar be worn. In private, clergymen are commonly required to wear the soutane.

(2) Clerics are forbidden to engage in trade and secular business. In the early ages of theChurch, it was allowable to seek necessary sustenance by labour, and that is not forbidden now if the cleric does not receive proper support fromecclesiastical sources. What is specially prohibited is to engage in trade for the sake of gain. The buying and selling, however, which is necessary in the administration of the lands or the goods of abenefice do not fall under the prohibition. Neither is it forbidden to clerics nowadays to place their money out at interest and receive the increment; for this is equivalent, allowing for modern circumstances, to theeconomic management of the lands ofecclesiastical benefices. Gambling in stocks, however, remains an illicit form of trade for clergymen (Lehmkuhl, Theol. Mor., II, n. 612).

(3) There are stringent laws concerning the relations of clerics with persons of the other sex. They must conform to the canons in all that regards allowingfemales to dwell in their houses. Above all must they avoid associating with those whose moral character causes the least suspicion.

(4) Unbecoming amusements are also forbidden to them, such as the frequenting of improper plays and spectacles, the visiting of taverns, indulgence in games of chance, carrying of arms, following the chase, etc. When in the above amusements, however, there is no necessary impropriety, lawfulcustom and synodal prescriptions may make a participation in them allowable.

(5) Clerics are bound to obey theirdiocesanbishops in all matters determined by the canon law. Various Roman decisions have declared that by his ordinary authority, thebishop cannotoblige clerics to render to him any service not expressed in the canons. While theobligation of obedience is binding on all clerics, it is strengthened forpriests by the solemn promise made atordination, and for all holders ofbenefices by the canonicaloath. Theobligation to be subject to thebishop in lawful matters is not, however, avow.

Loss of clerical privileges

Although thesacramental character received in Sacred orders may not be obliterated, yet even the higher orders of clergy may be degraded from their dignity and reduced to what is technically called lay communion. The same holds, of course, likewise for the lower clergy. When, however, a cleric who has received onlyminor orders or eventonsure, after losing his privileges, has been restored to the clerical state, this restitution, even when solemn, is merely ceremonious and is not considered as a new conferring oftonsure orminor orders. Even minor clerics are therefore considered to have a stable connection with the hierarchical order. SeeMINOR ORDERS;DEACON;SUBDEACON;PRIEST;HIERARCHY;LAITY.

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