Freedom Restoration Quotes
This bull was issued to Bishop Ferdinand located at Rubicon on the island of Lanzarote. Many critics of the Catholic Church point to the widespread use of slavery by Catholic laity and even the clergy during the Age of Discovery. It is clear, however, from the earliest appearance of slavery during this period that the official teaching of the Church condemned it as a crime subject to the sentence of excommunication ipso facto (by the very deed itself). The Church’s condemnation of “slavery,” however, did not extend to “just title” slavery, which approved of the practice in circumstances in which the person was deprived of their liberty justly. Specific examples have included slaves captured in war, persons condemned to slavery for a crime, and those who sold themselves into slavery. For an example of a type of “just title” slavery being legitimatised, see Nicholas V {612174}. In many cases the line between slavery for no morally justifiable reason, i.e. racial slavery, and “just title” slavery remained unclear to Catholic laity and clergy alike.
While many think the significance of this quotation lies in the fact that Constantine I accepted Christianity, there is another significant aspect to it. Note the “cruel and miserable” phrase used to describe men being assigned to weave linen. This terror of doing women’s work illustrates the macho chauvinism and sexism of the time. It never occurred to Constantine I or many others, that if doing weaving was not consistent with a state of freedom, then the society had relegated the women to a degrading role where they could weave all day and thus never be free.
He was able to obtain some allies, and sent his younger brother, Edward, to conquer Ireland and crown himself King of Ireland. He was not popular with many Irish however and totally resisted by the English. He was killed there at Dundalk, See {639441}.
