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Although Roman Catholicism, one of the largest branches of Christianity on the planet, believes in an all-powerful God, the church has taught since the middle of the twentieth century that the theory of evolution is totally in accordance with church teachings. This doctrine was first established by Pope Pius XII, and reaffirmed by John Paul II in 1996 when he noted that the theory of evolution is "more than a hypothesis" and that "truth cannot contradict truth," meaning that science and a belief in God can harmoniously coexist. Catholicism holds that the story of the creation as outlined in Genesis is simply the printed form of earlier Judaic myths, and is mostly metaphorical in its construction. To interpret its text literally is to put an enormous amount of stock in oral tradition, whose specifics vary greatly over time with each retelling. <ref>ahttp://webs.mn.catholic.edu.au/physics/emery/creationism.htm</ref>

'''Catholic views on Creationism''' have undergone change over time.  [[Roman Catholicism]], along with most branches of [[Christianity]], generally accepted a literal interpretation of creation is presented in the [[Book of Genesis]] in the [[Bible]] throughout most of its history. In more recent times however, based upon viewing increased scientific thought and discovery, the position of a literal reading of Genesis became less important.

According to the director of the Vatican observatory, Father George V. Coyne, a Catholic and a conservative theistic scientist, the theory of Intelligent Design as stated literally by Young Earth or Old Earth Creationists belittles the power of God to nurture a Creation over a long period of time, such as that indicated by secular science and liberal atheist scientists. Coyne agrees with John Paul's statement that evolution is a "fundamental church teaching" and should be treated as such. <ref>http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=18503</ref>

 

According to the director of the [[Vatican]] observatory, Father George V. Coyne, a Catholic and a conservative theistic scientist, the theory of [[Intelligent Design]] as stated literally by [[Young Earth Creationism|Young Earth]] or [[Old Earth Creationist]]s belittles the power of God to nurture a Creation over a long period of time, such as that indicated by secular science and liberal atheist scientists. Coyne agrees with John Paul's statement that evolution is a "fundamental church teaching" and should be treated as such. <ref>http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=18503</ref>

 

 

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