Donatism

Donatism was a Christian movement in North Africa during the 4th and 5th centuries that believed the validity of a church’s sacraments depended on the moral integrity of its clergy. They argued that priests and bishops who had sinned or betrayed their faith, especially during times of persecution, could not perform genuine sacraments. Consequently, Donatists rejected the authority of clergy they considered morally unfaithful, leading to a schism from other Christians who believed that God's grace through sacraments was independent of the clergy's personal holiness. This controversy raised important questions about the nature of church authority and purity.