Declericalize

/ˌdiːˈklɛrɪkəlaɪz/ verb

Definition

To remove someone from clerical or religious status, or to remove the clerical or religious character from something.

Etymology

From de- (remove) + cleric + -alize. This emerged in European history when governments began separating church and state power.

Kelly Says

The most famous example happened in 1905 when France legally declericalized education, removing religious instruction from public schools—a change so controversial it led to the complete separation of church and state in French law.

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