Baptized members of the Church who are not priests or consecrated religious sisters/brothers.

• A. Lay people
• B. Clergy
• C. Laity
• D. Monastic

Answer: (A)

Lay people are baptized members who are not ordained priests or consecrated religious. They form the part of the Church that shares in its mission through baptism and faith, worship, and service, without receiving Holy Orders or vows of religious life. Clergy refers to those who are ordained—bishops, priests, and deacons—who administer sacraments and lead the Church. Monastic describes individuals who live a religious life in a community and take vows, which is a form of consecrated life. So, the best term for baptized members who aren’t priests or consecrated religious is lay people, also called the laity.