text: There may not have been doctrine about chattel slavery in America. There does not have to be to condemn the Church's inaction. Legalism in the face of such things is cowardice. In this case, no doctrine was as bad as wrong doctrine or worse allowing bad proof texting regarding scriptures on slavery, which were underlined by the belief that the end was near and all slaves would be free anyway. Bad proof texting is not doctrine, but it can be part of it, like those regarding receipt of Communion when you don't believe it is real (mortal sin was not a thing in ancient times) or reading too much into Mark regarding divorce, if you wish to be relevant to this article. Sadly, bad proof texting can become traditional doctrine, which does not render it less bad. Bad proof texting adds authority to bad doctrine and usually no one had the courage to object. Post-Vatican II some of us are willing to clean up past mistakes, which include not ordainig women.