Thomas Aquinas

Thomas Aquinas was a Christian theologian and Roman Catholic saint of the 13th century.

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 * “... if a Jew should sin, should this person be punished with the financial penalty, since he seems to have nothing aside from usurious money. To which question it seems the response should be, in line with what has been said before, that it is expeditious that he be punished with a financial penalty, in order that he might not accrue some benefit from his iniquity; it also seems to me that the Jew should be punished with a greater fine (or anyone else who practices usury) than anyone else in a similar case, to make the point that the money taken from him be known to be less his entitlement. ... Now what has been said about the Jews is also to be understood about Cahors, and anyone else depending upon the depravity of usury. ... Finally you ask whether it is good that Jews throughout your province are compelled to wear a sign distinguishing them from Christians. The reply to this is plain: that, according to a statute of the general Council, Jews of each sex in all Christian provinces, and all the time, should be distinguished from other people by some clothing. ...”, Thomas Aquinas’s letter to Margaret of Flanders.