laity

Or “lay persons” is a term derived from the Greek word for “the people,” and refers to the rank and file membership of the church in contrast to the clergyconsists of the priest, ministers and pastors of Christian churches. In the medieval church this term referred to both regular priest who were monks s.... The distinction is much greater and more important in Roman CatholicismThe Christian tradition that is synonymous with Western (Latin) Christianity and claims its authority back to Peter and the Apostles but was repudiate... than in Protestantism.