Neither slavery nor serfdom, into which slavery gradually
passed, was ever pronounced unlawful by pope or Church council. The Church
condemned slavery only when it was the servitude of a Christian in bondage to a
Jew or an infidel. Abbots, bishops, and popes possessed slaves and serfs. The
serfs of some wealthy monasteries were counted by thousands. The Church,
however, encouraged the freeing of bondmen as a meritorious act and always
preached the duty of kindness and forbearance toward them.
DEMOCRACY OF THE CHURCH
The Church also helped to promote the cause of human
freedom by insisting on the natural equality of all men in the sight of God.
"The Creator," wrote one of the popes, "distributes his gifts
without regard to social classes. In his eyes there are neither nobles nor
serfs." It was not necessary to be of noble birth to become a bishop, a cardinal,
or a pope. Even serfs succeeded to the chair of St. Peter. Naturally enough,
the Church attracted the keenest minds of the age, a fact which largely
explains the influence exerted by the clergy.
