III. Church Doctrine on the Issue.

A. Papal Pronouncements.

1. Pius VI. Condemns the following propositions of the Synod of Pistoia (1794)

a. That the scholastic method “opened the way for inventing new systems discordant with one another with respect to truths of a greater value, and which finally led to probablism and laxism.” DZ 1576.

b. “The assertion which attacks with slanderous charges the opinions discussed in Catholic schools about which the Apostolic See has thought that nothing yet needs to be defined or pronounced.” DZ 1578.

c. “The proposition which asserts ‘that in these later times there has been spread a general obscuring of the more important truths pertaining to religion, which are the basis of faith and of the moral teachings of Jesus Christ', heretical.” DZ 1501.

2. Pius IX. Reproof to those who reject the teachings of scholastic theology:

• “Nor are we ignorant that in Germany there also prevailed a false opinion against the old school, and against the teaching of those supreme Doctors, whom the universal
Church venerates because of their admirable wisdom and sanctity of life. But by this false opinion the authority of the Church itself is called in to danger, especially since the
Church, not only through so many continuous centuries has permitted that theological science be cultivated according to the method and the principles of these same Doctors, sanctioned by the common consent of all Catholic schools, but it [the Church] also very often extolled their theological doctrine with the highest praises, and strongly recommended it as a very strong buttress of faith and a formidable armory against
its enemies.” Tuas libenter, 1863, DZ 1680.

3. Leo XIII. Prescribes use of St. Thomas and his methods

B. Practice of Church.

1. Condemning doctrines contrary to the teaching of theologians.

2. Applying scholastic doctrine and methods in her pronouncements.

3. Declaring theologians Doctors of the Church. (Ss. Thomas, Bonaventure, etc.)

C. The Code of Canon Law.

• “Instructors in conducting the study of the subjects of rational philosophy and of theology and in the training of the seminarians in these subjects shall follow the Angelic Doctor’s method, doctrine and principles, and steadfastly adhere to them.” (Canon
1366.2)