We explain what the clergy is and what its characteristics are. In addition, how the secular clergy and the regular clergy, and the high and low clergy differ.
What is the clergy?
The clergy is the group of priests or spiritual leaders of a religion. The term is used especially to refer to the priests of the Catholic Church, although it can also refer to leaders of other religions. The clergy has the function of administering the sacraments, preaching the teachings under the doctrine of the church and guiding the spirit of the faithful.
Members of the Catholic clergy are “ordained,” meaning they must study and pass the tests of an institution to belong to the “priestly order.” The clergy is part of the ecclesiastical institutional structure and is organized in a pyramidal manner according to principles of authority and hierarchy. You must read about Volleyball once.
Unlike theologians, who are scholars of religious matters, clerics are dedicated to the administration and practice of worship. Although the latter also possess extensive knowledge of their creed, the titles of cleric and theologian are not equivalent.
Throughout history, the clergy was established as a social class with privileges and functions differentiated from the rest of society. In most cases, this gave its members political, economic and social power. In addition, it was characterized by the exclusion of women and their relegation to lower positions in the ecclesiastical hierarchy.
Today, the clergy remains an important group in society, respected by religious believers. In some countries, the clergy is fully or partially funded by the state, and is subject to special legislation.
- The word “clergy” comes from the ancient Greek klēros, meaning “lot” or “inheritance.” Originally, it referred to the land that was assigned to settlers. Over time, it acquired a religious meaning and began to designate God’s portion or inheritance.
- In medieval ecclesiastical Latin, the term clerus was consolidated as the set of people consecrated to sacred service, such as priests, bishops, and other religious ministers.
Characteristics of the clergy
Among the main characteristics of the clergy are:
- Ordination: Members of the clergy are ordained through a specific ritual process within their religion, which confers upon them spiritual authority and the ability to perform certain religious and sacramental acts.
- Religious Functions: Members of the clergy have specific roles in the religious community, such as performing rites and sacraments, preaching, teaching religious doctrine, and spiritual leadership.
- Hierarchy: In many religions, the clergy are organized in a hierarchical structure that may include different levels (such as priests, bishops, and archbishops, among others), each with specific roles and responsibilities.
- Dedication: Many clergy choose a life dedicated entirely to religious service and may take vows of poverty, chastity, or obedience, depending on the religious tradition to which they belong.
- Influence: Historically, the clergy have had a significant influence on society and politics, both in promoting moral values and in defending social and political rights.
- Gender: Throughout history, most religions excluded women from the ecclesiastical hierarchy. Gender discrimination is still present today: resistance to doctrinal and traditional changes limits the participation of women as religious leaders.
Clergy of the Catholic Church
The clergy in the Catholic Church are organized hierarchically as follows:
- Pope: The pope is the supreme leader of the Church. He has ultimate authority over all religious matters and is considered the successor of St. Peter (the disciple of Jesus who founded the Church). He is elected by the College of Cardinals (a papal council made up of high-ranking bishops) and is responsible for defining doctrine, guiding Church policy, and being the chief shepherd for all Catholics around the world.
- Bishops and Archbishops: Bishops oversee large ecclesiastical regions called dioceses. They possess the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders, so they can ordain deacons and priests. They are responsible for doctrine, discipline, and pastoral guidance within their dioceses. Some bishops are appointed as archbishops when they lead archdioceses, which are larger dioceses.
- Priests: Priests celebrate ceremonies (masses) and administer most sacraments, such as confession, the Eucharist, marriage, and anointing of the sick. They may be assigned to specific parishes within a diocese or belong to religious congregations. They are central figures in parish life, providing spiritual and pastoral leadership to their communities.
- Deacons: They assist priests and bishops in liturgical and pastoral tasks. They may preach, baptize, preside at marriages and funerals, and assist in the celebration of the Eucharist.
On the other hand, the clergy of the Catholic Church are classified into two categories: the secular clergy and the regular clergy. These are distinguished by their lifestyle, their organization, and their functions within the Church. Maybe you should definitely read about History of Volleyball once.
Secular Clergy
Secular clergy, also known as “diocesan clergy,” are priests, presbyters, deacons, and bishops who live and work in the world, directly serving parish communities.
Their duties include celebrating Mass, administering sacraments such as baptism, marriage, and anointing of the sick, preaching, and providing spiritual guidance to parishioners.
Regular Clergy
Regular clergy are priests, monks, and friars who belong to religious orders or congregations. “Regular” comes from the Latin term regula, meaning “rule,” and refers to the specific rules or constitutions that these clergy follow.
Members of the regular clergy live in religious communities, such as monasteries or convents, and follow a particular rule of life established by their order (for example, the Rule of St. Benedict for the Benedictines).
They take solemn vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, committing themselves to follow the discipline and charism of their religious order. In addition to liturgical and sacramental functions, many regular clerics devote themselves to education, mission, social work, and contemplation.
Although under the authority of the pope and, to a certain extent, the local bishop, religious orders have a certain autonomy in their internal organization.
High and Low Clergy
The terms “high clergy” (or “superior clergy”) and “low clergy” (or “lower clergy”) refer to a socioeconomic division that existed during the Middle Ages.
High clergy: It was made up of ecclesiastical authorities and the highest-ranking positions, reserved for members who came from noble families and a royal lineage.
Low clergy: It included priests, monks and friars descended from peasants and urban artisans.
Although both enjoyed the virtues of belonging to the clergy, which together with the aristocracy formed part of the favored social classes, the distance between the standard of living of each was enormous.
Clergy in Islam
In Islam, the clergy does not have a formal hierarchical structure as in Christianity. Imams are the leaders of prayers in mosques and offer spiritual and religious guidance to the community. They may also preach during Friday sermons and lead daily prayers.
To become an imam, there is no formal ordination process. Only a thorough knowledge of the Quran and Islamic jurisprudence is required.
The ulema are Islamic scholars who study and teach sharia (Islamic law) and Hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad). They issue fatwas, which are legal or religious interpretations, and have an educational and judicial role in the community.
Clergy in Judaism
The clergy in Judaism is primarily composed of rabbis and cantors (chazanim). Rabbis are religious leaders who have a thorough knowledge of the Torah and Halacha (Jewish law). They teach, interpret Jewish law, lead religious services, and provide spiritual and moral guidance to the community.
To become a rabbi, it is necessary to complete extensive studies in yeshivas (rabbinical schools) and be ordained. Cantors (chazanim) are responsible for leading prayers in synagogues, singing and reciting liturgies. They may also teach liturgical music and Hebrew to members of the congregation.
Clergy in Hinduism
In Hinduism, the clergy is made up of pujaris and gurus. Pujaris are priests who perform rituals and ceremonies in temples, ensuring the purity and proper execution of rituals. They officiate at pujas (worship ceremonies), religious festivals, and rites of passage, such as marriages and funerals.
Gurus are teachers who guide their disciples on their spiritual path, offering teaching and advice based on Vedic scriptures and meditation. Gurus have a pivotal role in transmitting spiritual knowledge and may have disciples both in India and abroad.
Clergy in Buddhism
Buddhist clergy include monks and lamas. Buddhist monks live in monasteries and are dedicated to meditation, the study of Buddha’s teachings (Dharma), and teaching lay people. They follow strict monastic rules and their life is centered on spiritual practice and the propagation of Buddhism.
In Tibetan Buddhism, lamas are spiritual teachers who possess a high level of spiritual realization and knowledge. The Dalai Lama is the best-known example and has significant religious and cultural influence. Lamas may also oversee Buddhist monasteries and schools.
References
All the information we provide is supported by authoritative and up-to-date bibliographic sources, which ensure reliable content in line with our editorial principles.
- Ellwood, R. R. & Alles, G. D. (Eds.). (2007). Buddhism; Christianity; Dalai Lama; Hinduism; Islam; Judaism. The Encyclopedia of World Religions. Facts on File.
- Kerr, A. and Wright, E. (2015). Roman Catholic Church. Oxford Dictionary of World History. Oxford University Press.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2024). Clergy. Encyclopedia Britannica. britannica.com
