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| − | '''Catholic views on creationism''' have undergone change over time. [[Roman Catholicism]], along with most branches of [[Christianity]], generally accepted a literal interpretation of [[creationism|creation]] as 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. | + | '''Catholic views on creationism''' have undergone change over time. [[Roman Catholicism]], along with most branches of [[Christianity]], generally accepted a literal interpretation of [[creationism|creation]] as presented in the [[book of Genesis]] in the [[Bible]] throughout most of its history. |
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| | ==Evolution== | | ==Evolution== |
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| | This teaching had not been changed as of 1991.<ref>Keane, 1991, p.177</ref> | | This teaching had not been changed as of 1991.<ref>Keane, 1991, p.177</ref> |
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| − | Pope [[John Paul II]] said in 1996 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. <ref>http://webs.mn.catholic.edu.au/physics/emery/creationism.htm</ref><ref>This was said in French, and some opponents of evolution argued that the Pope had been mistranslated, and actually said "more than one hypothesis". This translation had the support of the official Vatican newspaper, but that paper later corrected their translation to "more than a hypothesis". Brumley, Mark, [http://www.catholic.net/RCC/Periodicals/Dossier/0102-97/Article3.html Evolution and the Pope], Catholic.net.</ref> | + | Pope [[John Paul II]], speaking in French rather than his native language, made a statement about evolution that used the ambiguous French term "une", which can mean "one" or "a". The English translation of this phrase in the Vatican newspaper was that the Pope said that the [[theory of evolution]] "is more than one hypothesis."<ref>http://www.catholic.net/RCC/Periodicals/Inside/01-97/creat2.html</ref> [[Evolutionists]] insisted that the paper had erred and that the phrase should have been translated as saying that the [[theory of evolution]] is "more than a hypothesis," thereby giving the theory slightly more credibility. But despite the intense pressure by [[evolutionists]] against the paper, it did not print their alternative translation. |
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| | ==Intelligent Design== | | ==Intelligent Design== |
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| − | According to the director of the [[Vatican]] observatory, Father George V. Coyne, a Catholic and a theistic scientist, the theory of [[intelligent design]] belittles the power of God. Coyne agrees with John Paul's statement that evolution is a "fundamental church teaching" and should be treated as such. The view of Coyne in rejecting intelligent design is not universal in Catholicism. For instance, the Cardinal archbishop of Vienna has spoken out in support of intelligent design. The Vatican itself has never taken an official position on the issue.<ref>http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=18503</ref>
| + | The position of cardinals in the Church on [[intelligent design]] are nearly as diverse as the cardinals themselves. The Cardinal archbishop of Vienna has spoken out in support of intelligent design. The director of the [[Vatican]] observatory, Father George V. Coyne, has been critical of it. |
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| | + | The Vatican itself has never taken an official position on the issue.<ref>http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=18503</ref> |
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| | == Bibliography == | | == Bibliography == |