(Latin: laicus, lay)
Exclusive administration of the affairs of the church by lay-men. Anti-clerical proponents of a separation of Church and State laicize, by measures of governmental supervision and control, functions that for ages belonged to the Church: education, marriage, hospitals, and charity organizations and maintenance of parishes, churches, convents and other religious institutions. Historically it appeared under various forms: Gallicanism, Febronianism, Josephinism. In more recent times laicization has also been called secularization, e.g., the anti-religious laws of France and Mexico. A laicistic program, denying the value of religious ideals for the civic,political, and social life of man, prevents the Church from functioning beyond the vestibule of her temples of worship.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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