Talk:Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Slavery

I don't know upon what basis it is claimed that serfdom disappeared in catholic countries.

Serfdom exists today in Europe. Certainly in the common law countries, where land ownership is entirely based upon feudal law. The only difference is that people are entitled to sell their tenancy rights in the property in which they hold an interest. (There is strictly no such thing as private ownership of property in common law countries).

Serfdom was implemented by Constantine, and was continued by his church successors down the years. In implementing serfdom and the feudal law, which hadn't previously existed in Rome, he condemned the poor of Europe to slavery for century after century.
 * Please note this is a copy of the text printed in 1913. Any inaccuracies (or not) are preserved as a accurate transcription of the original document.--Birgitte SB  15:47, 6 September 2007 (UTC)