Catholic Views On Creation
Catholic views on creationism have undergone change over time. Roman Catholicism, along with most branches of Christianity, generally accepted a literal interpretation of creation as presented in the book of Genesis in the Bible throughout most of its history.
Evolution
In 1909, the Pontifical Biblical Commission ruled that the historical sense of the creation account in Genesis 1-3 cannot be excluded. As of 1991, this ruling had not been superseded.[1]
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.[2] 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. The theory of evolution, as it is commonly taught today, does deny the existence of one Adam and Eve and thus undermines the concept of original sin that made necessary the Passion of Christ.[3]
In 1996, 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."[4] 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.
The Vatican rejected requests by evolutionists for clarification of the remarks and their English translation by the Vatican newspaper.
Intelligent Design
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.
The Vatican itself has never taken an official position on the issue.[5]
Bibliography
- Keane, Gerard J., "Creation Rediscovered", Credis, 1991, ISBN 0 646 04291 2.
References
- â Keane, 1991, p.169.
- â Keane, 1991, p.170.
- â Keane, 1991, p.177
- â http://www.catholic.net/RCC/Periodicals/Inside/01-97/creat2.html
- â http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=18503