It seems that there is some confusion concerning the Roman Catholic church's supposed support for the Theory of Evolution. This confusion became apparent shortly after an address Pope John Paul II gave to the Papal Academy of Science in 1996.
Newspapers, radio shows and various other parts of the press all made it seem as if the Pope gave his endorsement to evolution. The Pope was portrayed as a relativly enlightened religious figure certainly different from the igrorant Protestant fundamentalists.
But what did the Pope say? The Pope made three points. First he stated that the Theory of Evolution was more than a hypothesis because it has been supported by several independant lines of research. Second, he stated that there was more than one theory. And third he stated that the materialistic theories of evolution are contrary to the Church's teachings on humankind and nature.
Indeed for some time the Church has approved of one Theory of Evolution (variation and change) as a scientific hypothesis worthy of investigation. However, not unlike other Christian churches, the Roman church has continually opposed materialism.
The Pope's exact words were, "Theories of evolution which in accordance with the philosophies inspiring them, consider the spirit as emerging from the forces of living matter or as a mere epipenomenon of this matter, are incompatible with the truth about man."
These words were put somewhere in the middle of his speech. The Pope is often viewed as a dictatorial-like individual who imposes his views on abortion, contraception, divorce, homosexuality, and women priests, on his one billion fellow Catholics. While I feel that these criticisms are unfair, I do think that he did not do enough to state his views on evolution. To leave no doubt, at the beginning of his speech he should have said that evolution as understood by Sagan or Asimov or Dawkins, or Lewontin or Futuyma and so many others is completely unacceptable to the Roman Church. Rather than put a rebuke in the middle as he did it should have been at the beginning.
However had he done this, the headlines the next day would have read, "Pope attacks Science," and an exponential number of opinion pieces would have reminded the world that the Church did after persecute Galileo.
Still I do expect more from the Pope. He is a man of great courage and for him to show such weakness makes me think that it would have been better for him not to comment at all.
Nobel Laureate Leon Lederman summed things up well. "When people ask me to talk about spirituality, I tell them to go see the people across the street." Perhaps the Pope feels the same, just about science.
Many evolutionists would agree with creationists that Pope John Paul II is a great man. Indeed he is, and perhaps great understates it, but he still should have been more clear in his opposition to evolution.
Thankfully, the Number Two man in the Roman Church, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, is very clear. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which he authored and the Pope forwarded, Ratzinger makes the following points;
1. God is the Creator of heaven and Earth, and all that is seen and unseen. (279)
2. Creation is the foundation of all of God's saving plans and is the beginning of the history of salvation.(280)
3. Creation is truly important for it concerns the very foundations of humans and life in general. (282)
4. Scientific discoveries invite us to an even greater admiration for the greatness of the Creator. (283)
5. The existence of God the Creator can be known through his works. (286)
Ratzinger makes about another 100 points on the Creation of everything. For another excellent overview of the Catholic position on Creation, I would recommend reading the 'Phantom' General's Biblical Creationism.
What is not at issue is whether the Pope, Cardinal Ratzinger, or even the General are right. The purpose of this paper is to show that the Roman Catholic Church does support creation and not evolution.
Sincerely,
The Apostle
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