What Does the Catholic Church Teach About Evolution?
Although
Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution was first articulated in the 1850’s, popes
of the Roman Catholic Church didn’t address the issue formally until the
1950’s.
When
the Catholic Church eventually spoke on the issue, specifically Pope Pius XII,
he didn’t enter the debate, but, in a sense, stayed above it, stating that
there was no conflict between Christianity and Darwin’s theory of evolution.
The
official catechisms of the Catholic Church (revised 1997), relevant to the
discussion, state:
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159. Faith and science: "... methodical research in all branches of
knowledge, provided it is carried out in a truly scientific manner and does not
override moral laws, can never conflict with the faith, because the things of
the world and the things of faith derive from the same God. The humble and
persevering investigator of the secrets of nature is being led, as it were, by
the hand of God in spite of himself, for it is God, the conserver of all
things, who made them what they are." (Vatican II GS 36:1)
-
283. The question about the origins of the world and of man has been the object
of many scientific studies which have splendidly enriched our knowledge of the
age and dimensions of the cosmos, the development of life-forms and the
appearance of man. These discoveries invite us to even greater admiration for
the greatness of the Creator, prompting us to give him thanks for all his works
and for the understanding and wisdom he gives to scholars and researchers....
-
284. The great interest accorded to these studies is strongly stimulated by a
question of another order, which goes beyond the proper domain of the natural
sciences. It is not only a question of knowing when and how the universe arose
physically, or when man appeared, but rather of discovering the meaning of such
an origin....
Reaction
The
Catholic Church’s position on creation and evolution pleased some and upset
others. Some of the devout, who desired that the Church align itself with
current scientific consensus, welcomed the position, seeing it as progressive
and modern. Other believers expressed disappointment because they thought the
Church was falling away from a literal hermeneutic, especially in regards to the
book of Genesis.
In
the last 60 years, the Catholic Church has solidified a position that stays
above the debate, affirming creation, while not disavowing evolution, but
suggesting that the two positions can coexist in the Church. The current pope,
Pope Benedict XVI, that is Joseph Ratzinger, said in
2008:
“The
theory of evolution does not invalidate the faith, nor does it corroborate it.
But it does challenge the faith to understand itself more profoundly and thus
to help man to understand himself and to become increasingly what he is: the
being who is supposed to say Thou to God in eternity.”
Pope
John Paul II said in a 1996 address:
"In
his encyclical Humani Generis (1950), my predecessor
Pius XII has already affirmed that there is no conflict between evolution and
the doctrine of the faith regarding man and his vocation, provided that we do
not lose sight of certain fixed points.... Today, more than a half-century
after the appearance of that encyclical, some new findings lead us toward the
recognition of evolution as more than a hypothesis. In fact it is remarkable
that this theory has had progressively greater influence on the spirit of
researchers, following a series of discoveries in different scholarly
disciplines. The convergence in the results of these independent studies—which
was neither planned nor sought—constitutes in itself a significant argument in
favor of the theory."
As
the Catholic Church and the world enter the 21st century, it is clear that the
topic of creation and evolution isn't going away and that the Church will
continue to accept the theory of evolution.
What
is also clear is that the Christian faith is alive and well, even though some
wrongly forecasted its demise with the rise of evolutionary theory.