Cavallari, Domenico

CAVALLARI, DOMENICO. - Priest and jurist, b. at Garopoli on 7 Oct. 1724, d. at Naples on 5 Oct. 1781. A pupil at Naples of Vico in letters, of Genovesi in philosophy and of Pasquale Cirillo in jurisprudence, he later taught law at that University.

His principal works are the Institutiones iuris canonici, which went through many editions, and the Commentaria de iure canonico. Published posthumously and only at Naples in 1788, more than the Institutiones they reveal his politico-ecclesiastical stance, which alternates regalist traits with Jansenist assertions. Not only does he affirm the superiority of the council over the Pope (the Pope and the bishops are mere ministerial heads and Christ alone is the true head, and the faithful the true members), but he approaches rigorism in the penitential discipline by denying all value to sacramental attrition. For these and other errors his works were placed on the Index (27 Jan. 1817). He denied, however, the penalty of fire for children who died without Baptism, defended the antiquity of private Masses, accepted on the subject of indulgences the doctrine of the thesaurus Ecclesiae, and was opposed to the Inquisition and in general to the capital penalties inflicted on heretics.