# Devil's advocate: Is there really such a thing?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/devils-advocate-is-there-really-such-a-thing/225453>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 21, 2004, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/devils-advocate-is-there-really-such-a-thing/225453 "2004-01-21T13:35:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Janx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Janx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Janx)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2004, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/devils-advocate-is-there-really-such-a-thing/225453/1 "2004-01-21T13:35:26Z")

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From a list of “factoids” I got in the mail today:

> [@](#):
>
> The term “devil’s advocate” comes from the Roman Catholic church. When deciding if someone should be sainted, a devil’s advocate is always appointed to give an alternative view.

Is this for real? I sounds just hokey enough to be true. How ‘bout it, has anyone else ever herd of this? If it is not true then what is the origin of the title?

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2004, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/devils-advocate-is-there-really-such-a-thing/225453/2 "2004-01-21T13:43:29Z")

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Yes, [it’s true.](http://www.bartleby.com/61/1/D0180100.html)

See also [here](http://www.wordreference.com/english/definition.asp?en=devil's%20advocate)

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**Author:** ![gleeb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f14d63/32.png) [@gleeb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gleeb)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2004, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/devils-advocate-is-there-really-such-a-thing/225453/3 "2004-01-21T13:49:08Z")

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> [@Janx](#):
>
> From a list of “factoids” I got in the mail today:  
> Is this for real? I sounds just hokey enough to be true. How ‘bout it, has anyone else ever herd of this? If it is not true then what is the origin of the title?

Not any more. The office was abolished in 1983, by current Pope John Paul II.

> [@](#):
>
> But in a 1983 “apostolic constitution,” John Paul II fast-tracked the canonization process. The four-miracle requirement was cut to two. The devil’s advocate position - created in 1587 - was abolished.

From a story, orginally from the Dallas [_Morning News_](http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/7226571.htm).