Changes

In 1950, [[Pope Pius XII]] forbade the [[theory of evolution]] being taught as true, although said that evidence for and against evolution should be considered.<ref>Keane, 1991, p.170.</ref>  In the [[Humani Generis]], the Pope forbade any Catholic from teaching anything contrary to the existence of one [[Adam]] and [[Eve]] as the parents of all mankind, as evolution is commonly taught.

In 1950, [[Pope Pius XII]] forbade the [[theory of evolution]] being taught as true, although said that evidence for and against evolution should be considered.<ref>Keane, 1991, p.170.</ref>  In the [[Humani Generis]], the Pope forbade any Catholic from teaching anything contrary to the existence of one [[Adam]] and [[Eve]] as the parents of all mankind, as evolution is commonly taught.

This teaching had not been changed as of 1991.<ref>Keane, 1991, p.177</ref>

In 1996, Pope [[John Paul II]], speaking in an unfamiliar French, made a statement about the theory of evolution that was translated one way by the official Vatican newspaper, and a different way by supporters of evolution.  The newspaper translated the remarks as saying that the theory of evolution is "more than one hypothesis," while [[evolutionists]] translated it as "more than a hypothesis" and refuse to acknowledge the official newspaper translation.  The Vatican did not clarify the remarks, and the French phrase is ambiguous in its use of "une".<ref>http://webs.mn.catholic.edu.au/physics/emery/creationism.htm</ref>

 

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>

==Intelligent Design==

==Intelligent Design==

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 Cardinal archbishop of Vienna has spoken out in support of intelligent design, while other priests have criticized it.  The Vatican itself has never taken an official position on the issue.<ref>http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=18503</ref>

== Bibliography ==

== Bibliography ==