Apostolic Fathers St. Clement of Rome, St. Polycarp of Smyrna, St.Ignatius of Antioch, St. Justin Martyr and the authors of the Didache would be astonished to hear that.
It didn't become legal until the Fourth Century.
Catholic history is really vague and uncertain until Constatine.
And I’m not talking about the 300 year cycle.
I’m talking about major upheaval, resulting in church splits and major course corrections.
My observation still stands.
The Great Schism - 1054 AD.
The Protestant Reformation 1517.
____________- 2018 (ish)