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Schaff, Philip. (2014). "Chapter III, Alliance of Church and State and Its Influence on Public Morals and Religion." In History of the Christian Church. (The Complete Eight Volumes in One). Volume 3, Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity A.D. 311-600, from Constantine the Great to Gregory the Great. (pp. 1856-1908). (Original work published 1889). Amazon Kindle Edition. (Personal Library).
"§19. Elevation of Woman and the Family." (pp. 1876-1878).
§ 20. Social Reforms. The Institution of Slavery." (pp. 1878-1885)."
Schaff says clearly that raising the status and improving the treatment of women compared to "the degraded, slavish position" they had in paganism had always been a value of Christianity (Schaff 2014, p. 1876). Under Constantine and the later emperors, their work had the backing of Roman law. Schaff notes numerous moves such as the right to control property, the right to exercise guardianship, and protections against rape, including prohibition of prostitution. Marriage was protected by making divorce more difficult (Schaff 2014, p. 1877).
Under Constantine, the killing of a child by the father became illegal, though abandoning children remained a practice among the lower classes (Schaff 2014, p. 1878). Children who were found to be sold into slavery by their fathers were set free.
The code of Justinian, though declaring all humans equal, yet did not entirely repudiate slavery (Schaff 2014, p. 1878). In general, enslavement was the norm for people taken captive in war, mostly replacing extermination (Schaff 2014, p. 1879). Within Christianity, though slavery continued to exist, Scaff notes numerous instances of slaveholders even among bishops, but with more widespread manumission. Constantine permitted manumission, and clergy were allowed to release slaves by their word and without witnesses (Schaff 2014, p. 1880). Schaff reflects on the social disruption which would be caused by an abrupt ending of slavery. Yet he does not consider "it sufficient to insist on the kind Christian treatment of slaves" (Schaff 2014, p. 1880). The attempts to ban slavery were repeatedly unsuccessful, while Christians had a tendency to emancipate slaves (Schaff 2014, p. 12881). Schaff reviews the stated opinions of a variety of church fathers, who generally advised restraint in holding large numbers of slaves, and, in Augustine's point of view, should emphasize the redemptive nature of God's preservation of those who have been held captive (Schaff 2014, p. 1882) Schaff observes reports of exemplary wealthy presbyters and other influential people who would purchase freedom for enslaved people (Schaff 2014, p. 1883).
Schaff further describes the plight of the poor, prisoners, and the sick, who were neglected during the pagan period. Constantine prohibited the practice of criminals receiving a brand on the forehead (Schaff 2014, p. 1884), as well as maltreatment of prisoners before trial. The poor were provided with food and clothing so as to prevent them from selling or abandoning their children. Various obligations were removed from those in need. Eventually, bishops were placed in charge of care for the poor and oversight of prisons, so as to alleviate the maltreatment common in pre-Christian times.