Catholic Action (Topical Term)

Britannica online, Jan. 4, 2008 (Catholic Action: the organized work of the laity that is performed under the direction or mandate of a bishop in the fields of dogma, morals, liturgy, education, and charity. General Catholic Action organizations, such as the Holy Name Society or the Legion of Mary, are open to all Roman Catholics, or at least all of a given age. Specialized Catholic Action groups are limited to members of a given profession or interest group; also includes the broader notion & the lay apostolate - laity bringing a Christian influence to their environment)

New Catholic encyc. (Catholic Action)

New Catholic encyclopedia, 2003: Catholic Action (the term designates both a concept and an organization of laity; def. 1: any external action of a Catholic layman inspired by his faith; def. 2: only such actions of lay groups as were so defined by the local ordinary; there have been different views within countries at different times; aka "lay apostolate," a term prominent in the 1950s)