Takes out of religious work (6)
I believe the answer is:
exacts
'takes' is the definition.
('exact' can be a synonym of 'take')
'out of religious work' is the wordplay.
'out of' becomes 'ex' ('out of' in Latin).
'religious work' becomes 'acts' (I've seen this before).
'ex'+'acts'='EXACTS'
(Other definitions for exacts that I've seen before include "Insists on and obtains - sound precise" , "Insists on or claims" , "Compels to furnish" , "Extorts" , "making demands" .)