The Church had always been uncompromisingly against usury as a matter of moral rivalry
All of this helps explain why the Church had been so uncompromising in its attitude toward usury. It was not just a philosophical question; it was a matter of moral rivalry.
Money always has the potential to become a moral imperative unto itself. Allow it to expand and it can quickly become a morality so imperative that all others seem frivolous in comparison.
This is one of the many passages and charts Alessandro finds in books and articles on a daily basis. They span many disciplines, including:
Alessandro occasionally adds a personal note to them.
The whole collection is available here.