Editing Michael Baius (section)

== Life ==
He was born at Meslin L'Eveque near Ath in Hainaut as Michel De Bay, the son of Jean de Bay, a farmer. De Bay studied humanities in [[Brugelette]] and in [[Enghien]] and in 1533, he began studying philosophy at the Grand College het Varken of [[Old University of Leuven|Leuven University]]. From 1535, he also studied theology at the [[Pope's College, Leuven|Pope Adrian VI College]].<ref name=Sollier>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02209c.htm Sollier, Joseph. "Michel Baius." The Catholic Encyclopedia] Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 26 Jan. 2021 {{PD-notice}}</ref> He was an excellent student and was ordained a priest in 1542,<ref>[https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/religion-past-and-present/baius-michael-SIM_01427 Weitlauff, Manfred. "Baius, Michael", ''Religion Past and Present''. 2011] {{ISBN| 9789004146662}}</ref> and was appointed director of the [[Jan Standonck|Standonck-College]] in Leuven.

In 1544, De Bay obtained his doctorate in philosophy and became a teacher at the College het Varken. In 1549, De Bay was appointed professor of scholastic philosophy. The following year, De Bay also obtained a license in theology and became president of the College Adrian, and also substituted for the professor of Holy Scripture, who was then absent at the [[Council of Trent]]. From February to August 1553, he was the rector of the university.<ref name=":0">''A measure for nothing?'' ; by Guido Marnef; in ''The Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels, part 1'' , 2009, p. 84-86</ref> Baius had very early formed a close friendship with [[Jean Hessels]].

While Chancellor [[Ruard Tapper]] and [[Josse Ravesteyn]], Professor of Theology were at the Council of Trent, Baius and Hessels took the occasion to introduce new methods and new doctrines. They believed that Catholic apologists were seriously handicapped by their reliance on the authority and methods of the Scholastics, and that if instead of appealing to the writings of St. Thomas as the ultimate criterion of truth they were to insist more on the authority of the Bible and of the works of the Early Fathers, such as St. Cyprian, St. Jerome, and St. Augustine, they would find themselves on much safer ground, and their arguments would be more likely to command the respect of their opponents.<ref>[http://catholicity.elcore.net/MacCaffrey/HCCRFR1_Chapter06a.html MacCaffrey S.J., James. " Baianism", ''History of the Catholic Church: From the Renaissance to the French Revolution'', Vol. I, Chap. VI, 1914] {{PD-notice}}</ref> 

On his return from Trent in 1552, Tapper asked [[Cardinal de Granvelle]], [[archbishop of Mechelen]], to intervene. Granvelle succeeded in quieting the innovators for a while. De Bay's theories were very popular with theology students who spread it further. This was met with much opposition, and around 1558, later Cardinal [[Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle]] and [[Viglius]] tried unsuccessfully to persuade De Bay to make some adjustments to his positions. However, in 1560, at the request of the [[Franciscans]], the Sorbonne condemned 18 of his statements.<ref name=":0" /> Baius answered the censure in a memoir now lost, and the controversy only increased in acridity. [[Pope Pius IV]], through Cardinal Granvelle, imposed silence upon both Baius and the Franciscans, without, however, rendering any doctrinal decision.<ref name=Sollier/>