Clergy

Evolution of the clergies

Catholicism

The Catholic church of the Ancien Mode consisted of several “clergies” but all were distinguished from the Laïc S.

The clergy profited from the privilege of the ecclesiastical For, i.e. it could be judged only by a ecclesiastical Tribunal. This situation created abuses because certain professions (Université S) were comparable with the clergy.

Clergies

The clergy can be distinguished between regular clergy - which follow the rule of an religious order - and secular clergy - which lives in the “century”, i.e. in the company. One can also distinguish the high clergy, the prelates: Pope, cardinals, bishop S and Archbishop S, Abbot S, Prior S, and low clergy: priest S, brothers convers, etc The clergy is an order organized within the kingdom in the company of Ancien Mode.

The organization of the clergy

The pope, elected by the cardinals, in general names the bishops who order and name the priests and the deacons. Monks (monks, nuns, etc) elect their superiors (abbots, etc).

Clergy and General states

The clergy constitutes one of the three orders of the General states with the Noblesse and the Tiers state. These three orders are the Société of Loyseau. It could however happen that Ecclésiastique S were elected in other orders, especially in the third state.

Methods of election

The vote with the State-Generals was done by order, and not “per capita”. There was thus the majority by two votes against one only. Example: The clergy and the nobility often made pass their common decision against the opinion of the Third-State whereas this one accounted for 97% of the population.