Editing Catharism (section)

== Organization ==
=== Sacraments ===
Cathars, in general, formed an anti-[[sacerdotal]] party in opposition to the pre-Reformation Catholic Church, protesting against what they perceived to be the moral, spiritual and political corruption of the Church.{{sfnp|Alphandéry|1911|p=505}} In contrast, the Cathars had but one central rite, the [[Consolamentum]], or Consolation.<ref name="Belloc 1938 91">{{harvnb|Belloc|1938|p=91}}</ref> This involved a brief spiritual ceremony to remove all sin from the believer and to induct him into the next higher level as a [[Cathar Perfect|Perfect]].{{sfn|Johnston|Renkin|2000|p=252}}

Many believers would receive the Consolamentum as death drew near, performing the ritual of liberation at a moment when the heavy obligations of purity required of Perfecti would be temporally short. Some of those who received the sacrament of the consolamentum upon their death-beds may thereafter have shunned further food with an exception of cold water until death. This has been termed the {{lang|la|endura}}.{{sfn|Murray|1998|pp=189–190}} It was claimed by some of the church writers that when a Cathar, after receiving the Consolamentum, began to show signs of recovery he or she would be smothered in order to ensure his or her entry into paradise. Other than extreme cases, little evidence exists to suggest this was a common Cathar practice.{{sfnp|Barber|2000|pp =103–104}}

[[File:Berruguete ordeal.jpg|thumb|Painting by [[Pedro Berruguete]] portraying the story of a disputation between [[Saint Dominic]] and the Cathars (Albigensians), in which the books of both were thrown on a fire and Dominic's books were miraculously preserved from the flames.]]

The Cathars also refused the sacrament of the [[eucharist]], saying that it could not possibly be the body of Christ. They also refused to partake in the practice of [[Baptism]] by water. The following two quotes are taken from the [[Inquisitor]] [[Bernard Gui]]'s experiences with the Cathar practices and beliefs:

{{Blockquote|Then they attack and vituperate, in turn, all the [[sacraments]] of the Church, especially the sacrament of the eucharist, saying that it cannot contain the body of Christ, for had this been as great as the largest mountain Christians would have entirely consumed it before this. They assert that the host comes from straw, that it passes through the tails of horses, to wit, when the flour is cleaned by a sieve (of horse hair); that, moreover, it passes through the body and comes to a vile end, which, they say, could not happen if God were in it.{{sfnp|Burr|1996}}

Of baptism, they assert that the water is material and corruptible and is therefore the creation of the evil power, and cannot sanctify the spirit, but that the churchmen sell this water out of avarice, just as they sell earth for the burial of the dead, and oil to the sick when they anoint them, and as they sell the confession of sins as made to the priests.{{sfnp|Burr|1996}}}}

=== Social relationships ===
Killing was abhorrent to the Cathars. Consequently, abstention from all animal food, [[Pescetarianism|sometimes exempting fish]], was enjoined of the Perfecti. The Perfecti avoided eating anything considered to be a by-product of sexual reproduction.{{sfn|Johnston|Renkin|2000|p=252}} War and [[capital punishment]] were condemned—an abnormality in Medieval Europe,<ref name="Belloc 1938 91"/> despite the fact that the sect had armed combatants prepared to engage in combat and commit murder on its behalf.<ref name="Belloc 1938 92">{{harvnb|Belloc|1938|p=92}}</ref> For example, the [[Papal Legate]], [[Pierre de Castelnau]], was assassinated in January 1208 in Provence.<ref name="Madaule 1967">{{harvnb|Madaule|1967|p=missing}}</ref>

To the Cathars, reproduction was a moral evil to be avoided, as it continued the chain of reincarnation and suffering in the material world. Such was the situation that a charge of heresy levelled against a suspected Cathar was usually dismissed if the accused could show he was legally married.<ref>{{harvnb|Belloc|1938|p=95}}</ref>

Despite the implicit [[anti-Semitism]]  of their views on the Old Testament God, the Cathars had little hostility to Jews as an [[Ethnic groups in Europe|ethnic group]]: probably, Jews had a higher status in Cathar territories than they had elsewhere in Europe at the time. Cathars appointed Jews as bailiffs and to other roles as public officials, which further increased the Catholic Church's anger at the Cathars.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/albigenses | title=Albigenses }}</ref>

Despite their condemnation of reproduction, the Cathars grew in numbers in southeastern France. By 1207, shortly before the murder of the Papal Legate Castelnau, many towns in that region, i.e. Provence and its vicinity, were almost completely populated by Cathari,<ref name="Belloc 1938 92"/> and the Cathari population had many ties to nearby communities. When [[Folquet de Marselha|Bishop Fulk]] of [[Toulouse]], a key leader of the anti-Cathar persecutions, excoriated the [[Militia of the Faith of Jesus Christ|Languedoc Knights]] for not pursuing the heretics more diligently, he received the reply, "We cannot. We have been reared in their midst. We have relatives among them and we see them living lives of perfection."{{sfnp|O'Shea|2000|p=42}}

=== Hierarchy ===
It has been alleged that the Cathar Church of the Languedoc had a relatively [[Flat organization|flat structure]], distinguishing between the baptised {{lang|la|Perfecti}} (a term they did not use; instead, {{lang|fr|bonhommes}}) and ordinary unbaptised believers ({{lang|la|credentes}}).{{sfn|Johnston|Renkin|2000|p=252}} By about 1140, liturgy and a system of doctrine had been established.{{sfnp|Sumption|1999|pp=49–50}} They created a number of [[Episcopal see|bishoprics]], first at [[Albi]] around 1165{{sfnp|O'Shea|2000|pp=2–4}} and after the 1167 Council at [[Saint-Félix-Lauragais]] sites at [[Toulouse]], [[Carcassonne]], and [[Agen]], so that four bishoprics were in existence by 1200.{{sfn|Johnston|Renkin|2000|p=252}}{{sfnp|Sumption|1999|pp=49–50}}{{sfnp|Lambert|1998|p=70}}{{sfnp|Lambert|2002|p=140}}

In about 1225, during a lull in the [[Albigensian Crusade]], the bishopric of [[Razès]] was added. Bishops were supported by their two assistants: a {{lang|la|filius maior}} (typically the successor) and a {{lang|la|filius minor}}, who were further assisted by deacons.{{sfnp|Moore|1995|p=137}} The {{lang|la|Perfecti}} were the spiritual elite, highly respected by many of the local people, leading a life of austerity and charity.{{sfn|Johnston|Renkin|2000|p=252}} In the apostolic fashion, they ministered to the people and travelled in pairs.{{sfn|Johnston|Renkin|2000|p=252}}

=== 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}}