With a POD after the Crucifiction find a way for Christianity to be roughly as strong or stronger than it it now but usuing its influence to protect disadvantaged people, less well off, disabled, women and take a clearer stand against racism earlier
I dunno maybe Illuminati infiltration of the chuurch putting an anonymus cardinal on the Holy Throne?
You cannot have anything like the church be an entirely progressive influence. It has power. Powerful institutions always end up defending aspects of the status quo, the longer they exist, the more. Partly progressive can be done, but that's more or less OTL, if you discount the years from around 1550-1960.
In Spanish America it was "partly progressive" for further than 1550 (in a way). The Jesuits did a lot to proteect the Indians...
Banning Church (and monastery) from owning land would work wonder in keeping them become too deeply associating with Status Quo.
they will still slightly pro-noble ( who could give more enormous donation), but they will have far fewer bishop-cityfolk or bishop-tenant farmer conflict.
Yeah I'm not sure whether the church would ever go for excommunicating on mistreatment of Jews frowning upon it maybe but excommunication? I think if you stopped the Pope from ever being a secular power and forcing him to focus on theological aspects and being an embodiment of Christ on earth you might see more charitible work done and the church being more progressive
The Catholic Church actually was a progressive influence at varying points in OTL.
Yeah I'm not sure whether the church would ever go for excommunicating on mistreatment of Jews frowning upon it maybe but excommunication?