A 1988 study estimated that 67% of its members had kept their clerical status.
Over time, this proof of clergy-hood was replaced by a literacy test: defendants demonstrated their clerical status by reading from the Bible.
Professionally, Jason approved the clerical status, not the clerical colour.
Simultaneously he served as a church official, but would later abandon his clerical status.
Thus proof of ability to speak or write it became the usual test of a claim to clerical status (and privilege).
He was said to have had affairs with several women despite his clerical status and was liked by the inhabitants of the bishopric.
With his clerical status in question, it seems likely that only the Supreme Court or the electoral tribunal here can determine his eligibility for office.
Not about his clerical status, at any rate.
These records give not only the name of the person receiving a benefice, but what the clerical status of each new benefice holder was.
Charismatics as the ascetic movement was considered had no clerical status as such.