Catholics: (POLL) Do you accept evolution?

[catholic1seeks]

I don’t know what you are asking.

But I do know that Catholics can accept evolution.

 

[catholic1seeks]

On the contrary, how we were made matters, If we are just advanced apes we will live and die like other animals. If not, the Church has some definite teaching about that. No, God did not pick two almost humans and just dropped souls into them.

This is an assertion and does not reflect what the Church says. Clearly from Pius XII, the matter of the human is not ALL that makes the human, which is why it is OK for a Catholic to acknowledge that God used “pre-existent” and “living” material. That includes the evolution of the human body. But Catholicism does not teach that man is merely matter: We are spiritual. The Soul did not evolve. In either case, the entire human person is fully a project of God’s design, whether or not evolution of the body occurred.

 

[buffalo]

Did he mention the date and document reference that overturned it?

 

[buffalo]

But I do know that Catholics can accept evolution.

We agree on micro-evolution.

 

[catholic1seeks]

If you think the new teaching overturned a previous teaching, that is your concern.

To my mind, that’s like saying heliocentric models replaced the “teaching” on geocentrism.

In both cases, they may have been assumed in the past, because there was no real reason to question it.

Regardless, and again, you don’t have to take a literalistic reading of it. He’s the VP of theology at EWTN, an organization not known to be progressive or heterodox. And even if there was some hesitation, certainly the VP of theology would have made this clear on the air. But no, he said it matter-of-factly, with reference to JPII. And he did mention specific instance, but I can’t remember what he said (maybe theology of the body, or maybe some other lecture.)

 

[catholic1seeks]

We agree on micro-evolution.

But the issue is not whether or not you think the science backs up maco-evolution. It’s whether or not a Catholic can accept macro-evolution.

I’ll leave the science aside for the scientists (who, BTW, usually DO accept macro-evolution).

 

[Canvas]

https://www.ewtn.com/library/papaldoc/jp961022.htm

It was a 1996 address to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences

 

[ChunkMonk]

Gabriel covered that question, when he talked to Mary.

But that is clearly allegorical. The angel is speaking metaphorically.

The point is that they’re not in conflict – therefore, they don’t need ‘harmonized’

Actually, they are in conflict and therefore do need to be harmonized.

 

[catholic1seeks]

Thanks for the link, for it reflects the trend that the Popes indeed allow for evolution, even of the body.

However, that specific link is not referring to the Eve-from-Adam’s side issue. I have found JPII talk about it in general audiences, and have posted the quotes in other posts, but I do not remember what Colin Donovan referenced today on his show. Regardless, JPII and the church generally allows a non-literalistic interpretation of Genesis more generally and even Eve’s creation more specifically. Colin confirmed that THAT is indeed the case, when a caller asked about it on today’s show.

 

[edwest211]

Another stretching of the words. There were no other Adams. Humani Generis makes that clear.

 

[ChunkMonk]

The magisterium itself is in error,

The Magesterium has not spoken of evolution except to explicitly condemn the modern theory and to cautiously allow further examination of the question. Personal statement by Popes are not Magesterial.

when you called Pope Francis’ comments on evolution “blasphemous”

He’s the one who said God was “waving a magic wand” and ridiculed Scripture.

Is the magisterium in error, or are the faithful misunderstanding the magisterium, when it comes to accepting evolution as an allowable position?

Thr Magesterium supports my position and the faithful are misunderstanding the Magesterium.

 

[catholic1seeks]

Where did I say there were other Adams???

 

[ChunkMonk]

I went to Catholic school K-8

So did I. And later when I attended a pro-Creationist Lutheran school I was the only person arguing for evolution and I used all the arguments the evolutionists on this site use.

It was after I began actually reading the science of evokution and the Scripture when I realized evolution is incompatible with reason and Scripture.

 

[Canvas]

So Saint Pope John Paul II misunderstood the teachings of the Catholic Church? Is that what you are saying?

 

[edwest211]

They are in conflict. It appears a few are convinced God cannot perform miracles and the Bible somehow backs them up. It doesn’t.

 

[catholic1seeks]

The Magesterium has not spoken of evolution except to explicitly condemn the modern theory and to cautiously allow further examination of the question. Personal statement by Popes are not Magesterial.

The Church has precautions and limits with regards to evolution, but NOT THE process itself. Catholics can believe that biological organisms have a common ancestor, and that the human body evolved over time. Yes there are condemnations of certain aspects and philosophies: NO to atheistic evolutionism, NO to materialism, NO to scientism. But so?? Who on this forum — what Catholic — who accepts evolution is a materialist or an atheist? We believe God is behind it all. We DON’T believe the human person is merely a random mix of matter destined for death. We DO believe in Original Sin and that we had an original set of parents enlightened by Grace.

Thr Magesterium supports my position and the faithful are misunderstanding the Magesterium.

You are free to believe this. I’m getting tired of posting direct words from Popes, magisterial, and Vatican bodies that precisely recognize that some kind of evolution is FINE.

 

[catholic1seeks]

when I realized evolution is incompatible with reason and Scripture.

You can believe this.

But it’s not what the Church says, and very few would agree with you, both in the magisterium and in Catholic organizations, like EWTN or Catholic Answers.

 

[ChunkMonk]

So Saint Pope John Paul II misunderstood the teachings of the Catholic Church? Is that what you are saying?

I said what I said. Instead of using a (fallacious) appeal to authority and a strawman fallacy just argue what I have said.

 

[catholic1seeks]

Accepting that evolution is compatible with faith does not preclude belief in miracles.

Straw man.

 

[catholic1seeks]

ALSOO

Just a quick shoutout that I accept everyone here as a brother/sister in the Faith and in Christ, and I do not mean any ill will. Yes I am frustrated, and yes it is hard to see people behind a computer screen, but we need to remember that we have MUCH more in common — and that evolution (or creationism) is simply not the focus of our Faith.