Domenico CAVALLARI. — Priest and jurist, born at Garopoli on 7 Oct. 1724, died at Naples on 5 Oct. 1781. A pupil in Naples of Vico for 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 in Naples in 1788, more than the *Institutiones*, these reveal his ecclesiastical-political stance, which alternates regalist traits with Jansenist assertions. Not only does he affirm the superiority of the council over the Pope (the Pope and bishops are merely ministerial heads, and Christ alone is the true head, with the faithful as true members), but he also approaches rigorism in penitential discipline by denying any value to sacramental attrition. For these and other errors his works were placed on the Index (27 Jan. 1817). He nevertheless denied the penalty of fire for children dying without baptism, defended the antiquity of private Masses, accepted in the matter of indulgences the doctrine of the *thesaurus Ecclesiae*, opposed the Inquisition and, in general, the capital penalties inflicted on heretics.