TOURNELY, HONORÉ. - Theologian, born at Antibes (Nice) to a poor family on 28 Aug. 1638, died in Paris on 26 Dec. 1729. Through the interest of his uncle he studied in Paris, where, already a priest (perhaps in 1685), he took his degree in 1688. After four years of teaching at the University of Douai, he was called to the Sorbonne, where he held the chair of theology for 24 years (1692–1716).
At once a positive and speculative theologian, regarded as the greatest of his age, he opposed Descartes (v.), Fénelon (v.), Maria d'Agreda (v.); but above all he rendered great service Quesnel (v.) and Jansenism in general, whose condemnation through the bull Unigenitus he induced the theologians of the Sorbonne to accept. He was, however, a steadfast supporter of Gallicanism; he therefore made the judgment of the pope, whose infallibility he also admitted, dependent upon the universal ecclesiastical consensus.
His works were highly esteemed for their solidity of doctrine and clarity of exposition. The principal one was: Praelectiones theologicae (16 vols., Paris 1725–30). U. Robinet made an abridgment of it for school use (2 vols., ibid. 1731); P. Collet, adding the moral part, published it in 10 vols.: H. T. cursus theologicus scholastico-dogmaticus et moralis (Venice 1731–46).