Pope Benedict has said there is substantial scientific proof of the theory of evolution. Do you agree?

Question

documentation:
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22136550-5002700,00.html

Answer 1

No. The Vatican also believed at one time that the sun revolved around the earth. I don't put much stock in Vatican "scientists". Of course, I am not surprised, the Vatican has been denying the truths of Scripture since its inception.

Answer 2

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 3

It depends on how you define evolution. For micro evolution, change over time within a species for the survival of the fittest, there is an insane amount of evidence. Not accepting this is foolish because this is why people have different shades of hair and skin and different body types.
However macro evolution, the change of one species to another or multiple species spring from one, is very problematic. There is a huge jump between the two.
There is some evidence which supports macro evolution, but much of it is circumstantial and subjective. There is no where near the amount of evidence supporting micro evolution.
Macro evolution may be true, but there is not enough evidence to accept it based on the evidence alone.

Answer 4

Go back to 1996 and we have:

"...The convergence, neither sought nor fabricated, of the results of work that was conducted independently is in itself a significant argument in favour of this theory. " J-Paul II

But to place this in context, no interpretation of evolution is acceptable to the Catholic church which does not admit of the presence of hand of god in human history and nature.

The popes appear to agree with Stephen Jay Gould on "non-overlapping magisteria."

But that concept itself is a bone of contention.
And I think I'm against the popes AND Gould on this point at least.

Answer 5

The evidence for evolution is overwhelming. Only extremely ignorant people deny evolution

Answer 6

As long as we believe that God create the world, Catholics can take the evolution theory as true. Reason and faith does not against each other for Catholics.

Answer 7

As someone said earlier, how can you ignore the 10 ton elephant in the room? He has no choice, evolution is so obvious and has so much documented proof, he would look lke an idiot if he denied it

Answer 8

Of course I do, and I'm glad he does as well. He should not promote ignorance. Now how about pronouncing contraception to be OK, Ben?

Answer 9

Well, I'll be! He says there's proof of evolution? Hurrah!

Answer 10

Don't like the man but I agree with his opinion on that one matter.

Disagree with pretty much everything else he says though!

Answer 11

There is no doubt that there is, at least, a limited form of evolution. One need only look at the vast variety of dogs to see it. However, there is still only conjecture when it comes to macro-evolution of one species to another...ie like a dog to a cat.