Scavini, Pietro

views updated

SCAVINI, PIETRO

Moral theologian; b. Intra, Italy, Oct. 22, 1791; d. Novara, Nov. 17, 1869. He taught at the seminary of Novara and was a canon of the cathedral of that city. His Theologia moralis universa ad mentem S. Alphonsi (4 v. Novara 1841) enjoyed a considerable popularity and went through 16 editions, the last being that of Milan, 1901. Scavini engaged in a controversy with his friend A. rosmini on the validity of the reflex principle Lex dubia non obligat. In the course of the debate, in which others also had part, Scavini's interpretation of the mind of St. Alphonsus and of probabilism in general was vigorously criticized and defended.

Bibliography: h. hurter, Nomenclator literarius theologiae catholicae, 5 vol. (3rd ed. Innsbruck 190313) 5.2:179596. g. cavigioli, Il teologo Mons. Pietro Scavini (Pallanza 1920).

[p. k. meagher]