Francisco Suarez, the famous Jesuit theologian, writes with caution but with directness: “This is the teaching on this point of S. Thomas, who is generally followed by all other theologians.... The reason for their opinion is this: Such an action considered in its entirety by no means exceeds the natural powers of the demon, whilst the exercise of such powers is wholly in accordance with the malice of the demon, and it may well be permitted by God, owing to the sins of some men. Therefore this teaching cannot be denied without many reservations and exceptions. Wherefore S. Augustine has truly said, that inasmuch as this doctrine of incubi and succubi is established by the opinion of many who are experienced and learned, it were sheer impudence to deny it.”[35] The Salmanticenses—that is to say, the authors of the courses of Scholastic philosophy and theology, and of Moral theology, published by the lecturers of the theological college of the Discalced Carmelites at Salamanca—in their weighty _Theologia Moralis_[36] state: “Some deny this, believing it impossible that demons should perform the carnal act with human beings,” but they affirm, “None the less the opposite opinion is most certain and must be followed.”[37] Charles René Billuart, the celebrated Dominican, in his _Tractatus de Angelis_ expressly declares: “The same evil spirit may serve as a succubus to a man, and as an incubus to a woman.”[38] One of the most learned—if not the most learned—of the popes, Benedict XIV, in his erudite work _De Seruorum Dei Beatificatione_, treats this whole question at considerable length with amplest detail and solid references, Liber IV, Pars i. c. 3.[39] Commenting upon the passage “The sons of God went unto the daughters of men” (Genesis vi. 4), the pontiff writes: “This passage has reference to those Demons who are known as incubi and succubi.... It is true that whilst nearly all authors admit the fact, some writers deny that there can be offspring.... On the other hand, several writers assert that connexion of this kind is possible and that children may be born from it, nay, indeed, they tell us that this has taken place, although it were done in some new and mysterious way which is ordinarily unknown to man.”[40] S. Alphonsus Liguori in his _Praxis confessariorum_, VII, n. 111, writes: “Some deny that there are evil spirits, incubi and succubi; but writers of authority for the most part assert that such is the case.”[41]