institution of slavery. As Robert Dodaro recalls, “Augustine frequently drew from his church’s treasury in order to purchase the freedom of slaves. Moreover, on one occasion, while he was absent from Hippo, some members of his congregation stormed a ship and freed over 100 slaves held captive there.”32 He was also an active supporter of the right of sanctuary in the late Roman Empire, which was to stand with debtors and take the side of those ground under by economic inequality. Augustine’s church was a sanctuary for economic migrants, and he would appeal to imperial authorities on behalf of
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