The Jesuits - James Aitken Wylie

one. The opinion of a single grave doctor is all that
is requisite."
A yet greater doctor, Filiutius, of Rome,
confirms him in this. "It is allowable," says he, "to
follow the less probable opinion, even though it be
the less safe one. That is the common judgment of
modern authors." "Of two contrary opinions," says
Paul Laymann, "touching the legality or illegality
of any human action, every one may follow in
practice or in action that which he should prefer,
although it may appear to the agent himself less
probable in theory." he adds: "A learned person
may give contrary advice to different persons
according to contrary probable opinions, whilst he
still preserves discretion and prudence." We may
say with Pascal, "These Jesuit casuists give us
elbow-room at all events!"[6]
It is and it is not is the motto of this theology. It
is the true Lesbian rule which shapes itself
according to that which we wish to measure by it.
Would we have any action to be sinful, the Jesuit
moralist turns this side of the code to us; would we
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