Cathar Church, General Conference: Online Publications: Good Christians and Anti-semitism

NO APOLOGIES

The good Christians, also known as the Cathars are members of a nondenominational, nonresistant Peace church seeking to uphold the Sayings and Teachings of Jesus Christ. Our tradition is older than, and independent of, Roman Catholicism. Our spiritual decendants include the Amish, Mennonite and Quakers.

That's right, the Cathars have no apologies to make to the Jewish Community.

First, we will not apologise for the morally repugnant actions of some so-called 'Christian' churches since the establishment of institutional Christianity. Their words and actions speak for themselves and evidence a contempt and beytrayal of Jesus Christ; for His Sayings and Teachings as contained in the New Testament. Indeed, one could argue that this has in turn led others to show a contempt for human life itself on an international level.

Second, as if common decency and respect towards other human beings should be something to boast of, the Cathars have an unblemished record towards Judaism and its followers as you will read later on in this text.

Third, we have consistently demanded that several of the "mainline" churches publicly apologise for their roles in creating or perpetuating the evil of anti-Semitism. In particular, it is well documented that institutional Roman Catholicism carries the heaviest burden of shame from the Middle Ages, the Inquisition, to their compliance with, and tacit support of, NAZI Germany and other forces of prejudice and bigotry.

CONVICTION, NOT CONVENIENCE

In fact, we have consistently provided the strongest form of spiritual opposition to institutional Roman Catholicism -- even at the cost of our lives. We feel that this is proof positive that when we take a principled position, we stick to it -- end of story.

The good Christians have demanded that institutional Roman Catholicism sever its ties with organisations that engage in anti-Semitic statements; such as the organisation known as Human Life International. (Please ask for our booklet, 'Hate Love Internationally: the facts about Human Life International.'

ALWAYS A HUNTED MINORITY

Good Christians questioned many beliefs that segments of the early, Rome - dominated church felt were required to ensure a strong, domineering and centralised leadership. In so doing, they posed a serious threat to the state supported church hierarchy who as a result of the union of Church and State now had police powers.

For this reason, good Christians were considered expendable and were excluded from participation in the full life of the "official" church. They were denied positions of trust in the local church and forced, under penalty of death or long imprisonment, from conducting the faith of Apostolic Christianity openly.

Why should this be important to you as an adherent to Judaism? The persecutions against us 750 years ago were terrible and horrific for their age. We too, have lived and loved in secret, a small and persecuted minority throughout the Christian era.

OUR HISTORY SPEAKS FOR ITSELF

During the course of the Middle Ages, in those parts of Europe where the good Christians did or nearly replaced Roman Catholicism as the expression of the early Christian faith, a major Jewish subculture co-existed without persecution.

Let us quote from author Zoe Oldenbourg's book, Massacre at Montsegur (1961) as she describes the regions where the good Christians -- and not Roman Catholicism -- was in the majority :

"The Jews, who formed a large and powerful community in every major business centre, were not debarred from public life through any sort of religious prejudice. Their doctors and savants were held in high regard by the general populace throughout the cities of the area; they had their own schools, where they gave free courses of lectures, some of which were open to the public. In some towns, indeed, Jews were appointed to the office of consul or magistrate." pages 24-25

OPPOSING THE WHITE BROTHERHOOD

Contrast this to the actions of institutional Roman Catholicism and the means they used to control these same areas, as Zoe Oldenbourg goes on to write:

"'Bishop Foulques,' we learn from William de Puylaurens, was much concerned to prevent the exclusion of all those dwelling in Toulouse from benefits of Indulgence such as were granted to foreigners [i.e. to the Crusaders]. He therefore resolved to attach them to the Church's cause by means of a certain pious institution...' This 'pious institution' was, in point of fact, a brotherhood of militants [Roman] Catholics who undertook avowedly terrorist activities. The society was known as the White Brotherhood, since its members wore a white cross sewn on their breast; they made attacks on useres (that is, the Jews) and heretics living in the city, plundering and destroying their homes." page 153

It was this band of good Romanists who devised -- with the blessing of their church -- the infamous yellow Star of David to mark members of the Jewish faith for abuse and attack.

Cathar adherents joined with the Jewish community to form what was nick-named the Black Brotherhood. They wore no cross and sought to protect the homes and business of good Christians and Jews alike.

After the 12th century, and the murderous onslaught initiated by the Inquisition, Roman Catholicism expanded its scope and initiated the pogroms against the Jews. During and following the Protestant Reformation the generalised hostility continued through the NAZI era and into this very day and age.

WE STAND FIRM

New Testament Christianity is a tolerant religion of peace. That has been forgotten by those who claim to speak for Jesus Christ. But tolerance should not be at the expense of the truth. In that spirit, the reader should note that we have referred to the actions of institutional Roman Catholicism. We acknowledge the many individuals associated with that organisation who have truly practised good Christian virtues -- even to sacrificing their lives.

The good Christians or Cathars won't deny its opposition to this apostate church as an institution, but we have no intention of substituting one form of hatred for another.

We are also opposed to any form of unethical evangelism undertaken by the so-called 'Messianic Jews' which while on the surface evidences sincerity may or has violated the civil and religious liberties of the Jewish community or peoples and can bear an ill witness to the Creator.

There should be no mistaking where the good Christian stands: opposed with every fabric of their being to all forms of anti-Semitism, racial or religious prejudice as it appears today.

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