Abstract
<jats:p>It is our contemporary view that slavery and Christianity are in extreme opposition. However, in the New Testament, St Paul sent back a slave to his master, therefore accepting the institution of slavery, which begs the question: is there such a thing as «Christian» rules of slavery in the past centuries? This and more will be discussed in this interesting book. – Adam Wielomski This extensive monograph has all the features of a scientific treatise, carefully prepared, based on historical sources, and critically analyzed. Each issue is interestingly discussed, and indicates the extensive work put in by the author. The publication contains a huge amount of information absent from the book market. – Andrzej Zwolinski This book presents the development of the teaching on slavery through an analysis of 116 writings by 92 Catholic theologians from the 16th and 17th centuries. It discusses their definition and justification of slavery. It then details the four legal titles of just enslavement and the mutual obligations and rights of slaves and their masters. The reader will also learn about theologians' teachings on slave escapes, the possibility of owning property, marriage, and methods of manumission. The author discusses early modern Catholic theologians' critical stance on the unjust methods of enslavement and the iniquities of the slave trade at the time. Also, the influence of slavery theory on the practical decisions of synods and the Holy See is examined, addressing the question of why the popes unequivocally condemned the enslavement of Native Americans but failed to do the same for Black Africans.</jats:p>