It is a term that has a generalized use in the religious field. However, it is important to note that not all religions are used in the same sense or to refer to the same functions, in any case, we can agree that most use it to name that individual who actively displays a religious occupation, that is that is, involved in the religion that corresponds, either as a leader, as a bearer of the religious message, among other alternatives.
It is good to be clear that there are different types of clergy depending on the position in which they are within the order or the tasks they carry out. Specifically, these are some of the most significant:
- Clergyman of the Mass. He is also known as a priest and is responsible, among other things, for performing various religious services within what would be the temples.
- Cleric of the crown, who has the first tonsure, that is, the first degree that exists within the religion.
- Senior cleric. This is a term used to refer to that religious who has one or the three main major orders that exist and which are the priesthood, the diaconate and the subdiaconate.
- Clergy of minors. As its name indicates, under this denomination are the religious who have to their credit one or more of the minor orders that exist. We can say that they are exorcists, ostials, acolytes and readers.
In addition to all this, we cannot ignore that within the different groups of existing clergy, there is also the so-called chamber clergyman. This is a term used to refer to someone who has the honor of having been appointed to a position within what would be the Pope's Palace.
For Islam, a cleric is a religious leader. In countries where religion and state are not separated or at least closely linked, clerics are important political and social authorities: “An Iranian clergyman asked for the death penalty for an actress wearing a skirt on television. local "the president responded in harsh words to the statements of the Arab cleric on the situation in the Middle East."
