The problem was never that Christians had started a new religion. The Romans entertained numerous religions other than their own.

What abuse were the early Christians stopping? These the same Christians whose core holy text, which they believe is God’s own word, says “Spare the rod and spoil the child”? And “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death”?

In what bizarre world were the Romans not caring for and educating the children they raised? Education was one of the chief responsibilities of a Roman parent, even one in the upper-classes. Even the notoriously heartless twat Cato the Elder attended to his son personally when he was bathed as an infant.

Considering the enforced asceticism, obsessive shaming, and anti-intellectualism of many early Christian sects, I don’t really think they were treating or educating their children better than the dreaded ‘pagans’ they opposed.