Semper Catholicus is right about Leo XIII.
“15. But he must not on that account consider that it is forbidden, when just cause exists, to push inquiry and exposition beyond what the Fathers have done; provided he carefully observes the rule so wisely laid down by St. Augustine-not to depart from the literal and obvious sense, except only where reason makes it untenable or necessity requires; a rule to which it is the more necessary to adhere strictly in these times, when the thirst for novelty and unrestrained freedom of thought make the danger of error most real and proximate.”
And JanSobieskiIII is right about St Augustine of Hippo.
“It not infrequently happens that something about the earth, about the sky, about other elements of this world, about the motion and rotation or even the magnitude and distances of the stars, about definite eclipses of the sun and moon, about the passage of years and seasons, about the nature of animals, of fruits, of stones, and of other such things, may be known with the greatest certainty by reasoning or by experience, even by one who is not a Christian.
It is too disgraceful and ruinous, though, and greatly to be avoided, that he [the non-Christian] should hear a Christian speaking so idiotically on these matters, and as if in accord with Christian writings, that he might say that he could scarcely keep from laughing when he saw how totally in error they are.” (From The Literal Interpretation of Genesis 1:19–20, Chapt. 19)
Neither Leo XIII not Augustine had any idea of the extent to which reason would ever be able to explain the world, but both were remarkably prescient in warning Christians against sticking too dogmatically to a literal interpretation of the bible when “reason makes it untenable”.
The same sentiment was expressed by Pope Benedict XVI, in his Regensburg address, and Pope Francis, in his address to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.
I personally agree with Gorgias. Christianity, and specifically Catholic Christianity, is to me, a supremely rational religion. But I am aware that this is neither true, nor necessary, among some of our correspondents here, and rather than condemn them out of hand, I think we should extend a hand of tolerance. At a simple level there is a danger of people not understanding the ‘rationality of God’, and fearing that in championing rationality one champions scientism, and rejects God altogether. Clearly this is not what either the Church, nor the Popes quoted, actually believe, but insecurity can make people cling to simplicity rather than sophistication.
