Do you think the Catholic Church...?

Question

made a good decision when they decided to accept evolution as a good scientific theory. I personally think they did. I think by giving people the ability to both believe in science and the bible at the same time, they are going to gain a lot more followers. I think a lot of people are getting very angry with the Baptist church and their hatred of science. I think the Baptist Church is making a very poor decision by opposing evolution. I think that by opposing science, they are pushing a lot of people away from the word of Christ. Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't Jesus tell us to bring people to his word, not push people away?????? I think that by accepting evolution, the Catholic Church is bringing many people to the word of Christ.

Answer 1

Evolution has know place in the bible! they completely
contradict each other. The baptist church is correct in opposing evolution.

God Bless

Answer 2

I know of no magestarial document "accepting" evolution. The Pontifical Biblical Commission is an advisory board, and has no doctrinal authority. I also know of one obscure French statement from the late Holy Father John Paul II, but the translation issues involved make it difficult to understand what he meant, and even that statement was just an opinion, and not a doctrinal statement. The Church does not punish or censor Catholics who believe in evolution, and that's about all we can say.

Our current Pope has expressed his own doubts about the theory, and the overall consensus of the faithful across history has been against evolution, although it was originally the Ancient Greek version of the theory which the Fathers condemned.

It is true that belief in evolution is permissible, as long as one somehow accepts the the words of Genesis are in some since true, if only symbolically. But the Church has enough sense not to advocate a scientific theory such as evolution.

When the current system of education and governance collapses, and people are able to take a more dispassionate view of the issues, I'm confident even the scientific establishment will attempt another theory of origins that doesn't carry the logical problems of evolution.

And the Church will have wisely steered clear of the resulting cacophony.

Answer 3

I agree.

The hierarchy of the Church has made a lot of mistakes over the last 2,000 years (remember Galileo?). But it has also learned from those mistakes.

Some of the youthful Protestant denominations (most are much less than 500 years old) seem to have ignored some of the lessons of Catholicism's history and are making some of the same mistakes.

The Catholic Church does not take the stories of creation in the Bible literally. Catholics believe the book of Genesis tells religious truth and not necessarily historical fact.

One of the religious truths is that God created everything and declared all was good.

Catholics can believe in the theory of evolution. Or not. The Church does not require belief in evolution.

On August 12, 1950 Pope Pius XII said in his encyclical Humani generis:

The Teaching Authority of the Church does not forbid that, in conformity with the present state of human sciences and sacred theology, research and discussions, on the part of men experienced in both fields, take place with regard to the doctrine of evolution, in as far as it inquires into the origin of the human body as coming from pre-existent and living matter - for the Catholic faith obliges us to hold that souls are immediately created by God.

Here is the complete encyclical: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_12081950_humani-generis_en.html

The Church supports science in the discovery of God's creation. At this time, the theory of evolution is the most logical scientific explanation. However tomorrow someone may come up with a better idea.

As long as we believe that God started the whole thing, both the Bible and modern science can live in harmony.

With love in Christ.

Answer 4

Pope John Paul 2 personally believed that evolution was acceptable or probable. That is not infallible church doctrine and his (JP2's) personal opinions on such matters carry no more weight than mine or yours in Church Law.
As a matter of fact the Church officially has no regard for the evolution theories of Darwin and others. The Church does not condone or accept it. It simply cautions that while it may be the instrument used by God, it is yet unproven and as far as anyone can tell at this time, unprovable. For an issue of scientific theory, unproven and no method for proof is somewhat damning. To accept it without question and to promote it with fervor would at this point be an act of FAITH, not scientific rigor.

Answer 5

"what is the house looking thing under the crucifix at the front of the church called that the pastor puts the communion crackers in after communion? what is it called?" First, the bread is not in the form of crackers, but are called hosts. The "house looking thing" is called a tabernacle. "what is the long prayer that everyone says during mass that everyone knows the words to? is that the sinners prayer?" There are many prayers that everyone says together. If it is at the beginning of the Mass and speaks about sins, it is probably the Confeitor. i noticed there were 2 offerings. The first one was just envelopes or pieces of paper and the 2nd was obviously money. was the first one prayer requests? on the crucifixx there was a banner that said INRI. what does that mean? " I noticed there were 2 offerings. The first one was just envelopes or pieces of paper and the 2nd was obviously money. was the first one prayer requests?" Sometimes there is a second collection for a special project. I believe that last weekend was a special collection for Peter's Pence - a collection to support the charitiable projects of the Vatican. "on the crucifixx there was a banner that said INRI. what does that mean?" INRI is an acronym for Iesus Nazorean Rex Iudea - which is latin for Jesus of Nazoreth, King of the Jews - this is the "crime" that Jesus was charged with. Feel free to contact me with any other questions

Answer 6

I haven't heard that but the Catholic Church was formed in
the third century. Jesus created his church while he was on earth so the Catholics can't be that church. The Baptist Church may not be that church either but their teaching are
a lot closer to it that the Catholic are. Evolution is a theory
if you can prove it please do it tell me how the first non living
thing suddenly came to life and started the process. Surly as
many scientist that have been working on this for years can
explain how that happened so why can't they? Until you can
I think I'll believe the Bible over a bunch of scientist who
believed a pigs tooth was from a prehistoric human. In 1921
geologist Harold Cook found a tooth in Nebraska , scientists determined that the tooth was from the missing link, it was reported in the London Times on June 24th 1922 missing link found. Well it turned out to be a pig's tooth, and evolutionist have tried to keep it quite because it made fools out of all of the whole bunch of them

Answer 7

The church didn't leave the door for evolution open because it hopes to gain more followers. It left the door open because it is a sound theory.

There once was a time when my church (Catholic) also denied science. Remember Galileo? They denounced him as a heretic.

I'm certain the Baptists will come around eventually. But first they have to stop preaching that the bible is 100% truth. How can poetry and prayer be truth? Jesus himself taught in parables. How can parables be truth? They teach us a lesson. The lesson is true. But the story is just a story.

Answer 8

The Church teaches that faith and science are not opposed, because the same God who gave us faith also created the physical world which we live in and the science by which we explore it. Truth cannot contradict truth.

159 Faith and science: "Though faith is above reason, there can never be any real discrepancy between faith and reason. Since the same God who reveals mysteries and infuses faith has bestowed the light of reason on the human mind, God cannot deny himself, nor can truth ever contradict truth." "Consequently, methodical research in all branches of knowledge, provided it is carried out in a truly scientific manner and does not override moral laws, can never conflict with the faith, because the things of the world and the things of faith derive from the same God. The humble and persevering investigator of the secrets of nature is being led, as it were, by the hand of God in spite of himself, for it is God, the conserver of all things, who made them what they are."

Answer 9

Maybe, but the church shouldn't have to make a decision. It should already know what it stance is and how it relates.

Don't get me wrong, I think the Catholic church does do a ton of good. But they keep changing doctrine. For example, for years they taught the theory of purgatory. and now "it was never an official doctrine". well which it? something like that can't be changed.

Answer 10

Wow, you mean that the same church that was forced to pay out $650 million in restitution to molested kids, also endorses macro evolution?? So once again the world jumps on the bandwagon with the same group that thought the earth is not only flat, but the center of the universe as well. History sure enough repeats itself, too bad no one pays attention to it.

*note, it wasn't just the catholic church that thought the earth was flat, but the majority scientists in that day as well. They demonized anyone that came against their theories much like they do today against anyone that refutes molecules to man evolution.