Even though Christianity is illegal and Christians can be subject to persecution, in what ways does Roman law--as shown in the letters between Pliny and Trajan-- actually have the effect of protecting members of the early Church? In Pliny, Letter 10.96-97, he is expressing to Trajan the current circumstances that are taking place in between the early Christians the he Roman law. One way the Roman law actually has the effects of protecting member of the early Church were that Christians were not so easily convicted of being a Christian. Trajan response to Pliny was that, “…that whoever denies that he is a Christian and really proves it--that is, by worshiping our gods--even though he was under suspicion in the past, shall obtain pardon through