AMORT, EUSEBIUS. - German theologian of the 18th century, b. at Bibermühle, near Tölz, in Bavaria, on 15 Nov. 1692, d. 5 Feb. 1775. He entered, while still young, the Order of Canons Regular of the Lateran in the provostry of Polling. Appointed in 1717 professor of philosophy and then of theology, he taught these disciplines together with canon law for some years in the school of the provostry. As theologian to Cardinal Lercari (1733-35), he had the opportunity to meet many prominent figures. Having returned to Polling, for 40 years he devoted himself with tireless zeal to his favorite studies.
A. wrote a great deal, and not only on ecclesiastical subjects. As early as 1722 he founded a journal: Parnassus boicus, of a scientific-literary character. As a moralist he is considered, together with St. Alphonsus Liguori, the founder of "equiprobabilism," upholding it through many controversies. Compare his writings Controversiae novae morales (Augsburg 1749) and Disquisitiones dogmaticae de controversiis in theologia moralis insignibus (Venice 1745) and more especially: Theologia moralis inter rigorem et laxitatem media, ibid. 1757. Of his other works, the following deserve to be remembered: Theologia eclectica, moralis et scholastica (Augsburg 1752 and Bologna 1753); Elementus juris canonici veteris et moderni (Ulm 1757). A man of versatile intellect, more erudite than profound, A. also wrote on mystical theology. Today his most esteemed work, for the precious information it has preserved for us, is Vetus disciplina canonicorum regularium et saecularium ex documentis ineditis usque ad saeculum XVII critice et moraliter expensa (Venice 1748).
BIBL. F.-X. Baader, Das gelehrte Bayern, Nuremberg 1804; Hurter, III, p. 201; C. Toussaint, s. v. in DThC, I, coll. 1115-1116; J. Pietsch, s. v. in DHG, II, coll. 1332-33.