The secular clergy consisted of the bishop and the parish priests who served the rural communities of New France. François de Laval, the first bishop, was a very influential and powerful figure in New France. He:
 

François de Laval

founded the Séminaire de Québec, a college to train priests was a key member of  the Sovereign Council opposed trading alcohol for furs with the Native populations instituted the tithe (a church tax to help pay for church expenses) organized parishes wherever numbers warranted a curé or parish priest The parish priests (curés) were very close to their parishioners and they had much influence over the population. In addition to their religious duties they were also responsible for keeping records of births, marriages and deaths drawing up legal contracts in regions where there were no notaries (more)