I am reading at the moment Michael Davies - An Evaluation by John S. Daly. Many pages are devoted to the gradiations of authority and expertise in the Roman Church and the Concilar Church (The Church post Second Vatican Council).

Generally from Holy Scripture and Tradition, not regarded by the Church as infallible – the Fathers and Doctors speaking alone, the s Saints and Popes expressing their private views, writings approved by high authority in the Church or by long tradition, etc., profane writers or authors should be used only with the utmost discernment ; much more so the statements of heretics, apostates and infidels; but never should living persons be adduced as authorities.

“Opinions are like coins, the value of which is reckoned not by their number but by their weight and the amount of precious metal in them. Thus opinions are not commended by the number of authors who maintain them, but by the quality of reason, truth and prudence which support them. Otherwise the fools would ever be victorious, as there are more of them than of the wise.” (Cardinal Sfondratus : In Reg. Sacerd., lib. 1, n. 20 and lib. 2, n. 14§6)