Cathars

The Cathars were from the south of France. The Cathars were the founders of the Merovingian dynasty. (See "The Templar Pirates" page 33)

It is thought by some that Hugh de Payens may have been a Cathar.  It would seem odd for him to have been the leader of the Knights Templar with the blessings of the Catholic Church if he had been a Cathar, unless the Catholic Church had no knowledge of his being a Cathar.

The Cathars seemed to believe that man could come into direct contact with God without the need of a priest or an organized church.  This did not sit well with the established church as it would eliminate some of the Church's reason for existing.  To this date members of the Catholic Church seem to need a priest to act as a lawyer or representative to negotiate with God for them.  These negotiations seem to take place during the process called Confession.  Most other Christian Religions do not seem to require a priest to act as a lawyer for communicating with God. 

The Catholic Church had most of the Cathars killed about the year 1209. (See "The Last Templar" by Khoury page 120)  These murders were committed by the Church in an event sometimes known as the Albigensian Crusade under the orders of Pope Innnocent III. (See "The Second Messiah" p 119)

The Cathars seem to have been Freethinkers. 

Also see:

Albigensian Crusade 
Cathars  
Catholic Church  
Christian  
Freethinkers 
God  
Hugh de Payens  
Knights Templar  
Pope Innnocent III 
Religion 
"The Last Templar"
"The Templar Pirates"