laicize

From laic (“layperson”) +‎ -ize (“verbal suffix”).

laicize (third-person singular simple present laicizes, present participle laicizing, simple past and past participle laicized)

1. (transitive) To convert from church controlled to independent of the church; to secularize.

   They will laicise each of the schools in the district.

2. (transitive) To reduce from clergy to layman.

   Due to his controversial views the Vatican decided to laicise the priest.

3. (intransitive) To convert to lay status.

   The soup kitchen laicised, it moved out of the church and registered as an independent non-profit.