Editing Catharism (section)

=== Role of women ===
[[File:Cathars expelled.JPG|thumb|upright=1.25|Cathars being expelled from [[Carcassonne]] in 1209.]]

Catharism has been seen as giving women the greatest opportunities for independent action, since women were found as being believers as well as Perfecti, who were able to administer the sacrament of the ''consolamentum''.{{sfnp|Ward|2002|pp=241–42}}

Cathars believed that a person would be repeatedly reincarnated until they committed to self-denial of the material world. A man could be reincarnated as a woman and [[vice versa]].{{sfnp|O'Shea|2000|pp=10–12}} The spirit was of utmost importance to the Cathars and was described as being immaterial and sexless.{{sfnp|O'Shea|2000|pp=10–12}} Because of this belief, the Cathars saw women as equally capable of being spiritual leaders.{{sfnp|O'Shea|2000|pp=25–26}}

Women accused of being [[Heresy|heretics]] in early [[medieval Christianity]] included those labelled [[Gnostics]], Cathars, and, later, the [[Beguines]], as well as several other groups that were sometimes "tortured and executed".{{sfnp|Clark|2001|p=412}} Cathars, like the Gnostics who preceded them, assigned more importance to the role of [[Mary Magdalene]] in the spread of early Christianity than the church previously did. Her vital role as a teacher contributed to the Cathar belief that women could serve as spiritual leaders. Women were included in the Perfecti in significant numbers, with numerous receiving the {{lang|la|consolamentum}} after being widowed.{{sfnp|Ward|2002|pp=241–42}} Having reverence for the [[Gospel of John]], the Cathars saw Mary Magdalene as perhaps even more important than [[Saint Peter]], the founder of the church.{{sfnp|O'Shea|2000|pp=80–81}}

Catharism attracted numerous women with the promise of a leadership role that the Catholic Church did not allow.{{sfnp|Schaus|2006|p=114}} Catharism let women become a Perfect.{{sfnp|O'Shea|2000|pp=40–43}} These female Perfects were required to adhere to a strict and ascetic lifestyle, but were still able to have their own houses.{{sfnp|Kaelber|1997|p=120}} Although many women found something attractive in Catharism, not all found its teachings convincing. A notable example is [[Hildegard of Bingen]], who in 1163 gave a rousing exhortation against the Cathars in [[Cologne]]. During this discourse, Hildegard announced God's eternal [[damnation]] on all who accepted Cathar beliefs.{{sfnp|Newman|1998|pp=753–755}}

While women Perfects rarely travelled to preach the faith, they still played a vital role in the spreading of Catharism by establishing group homes for women.{{sfnp|O'Shea|2000|p=41}} Though it was extremely uncommon, there were isolated cases of female Cathars leaving their homes to spread the faith.{{sfnp|Weis|2001|p=122}} In Cathar communal homes (ostals), women were educated in the faith. These women would go on to bear children who would then become believers. Through this pattern, the faith grew exponentially through the efforts of women, as each generation passed.{{sfnp|O'Shea|2000|p=41}}

Despite women having a role in the growth of the faith, Catharism was not completely equal. For example, the belief that one's last [[incarnation]] had to be experienced as a man to break the cycle.{{sfnp|O'Shea|2000|p=42}} This belief was inspired by later French Cathars, who taught that women must be reborn as men in order to achieve [[salvation]].{{sfnp|Schaus|2006|p=114}} Toward the end of the Cathar movement, Catharism became less equal and started the practice of excluding women Perfects.{{sfnp|Schaus|2006|p=114}} However, this trend remained limited. For example, later on,{{when|date=November 2021}} Italian Perfects still included women.{{sfnp|Schaus|2006|p=114}}