devil's advocate

These are intriguing mentions, like Lowry being called, by Emilio Sanz De Soto, a "fasciste dement" (26), but they make taking him on more like the task of the advocatus diaboli.

And there had to be a hearing, at which the advocatus Diaboli, or Devil's Advocate, would be appointed by the Church to make the strongest possible case against the nominee.

The Catholic Church has the practice of appointing a devil's advocate (Advocatus Diaboli) when considering a person for sainthood.

There is no longer any advocatus diaboli to itemize the failings, real or alleged, of any proposed saint, and so we may assume that the volume by Mr.