Is it anywhere in the catechism that Catholics CAN believe in evolution?

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It’s alright for Catholics to believe in evolution. I don’t think it’s in the Catechism because it’s not a dogma of the faith and the Church doesn’t have an official opinion on it.
 
One of our priests even referenced this in the RCIA classes. Basically that he considered it a very limiting view of God to say that he could not create critters capable of adapting and evolving.

Frankly, one would have to be like the ostrich with its head in the sand to deny that evolution doesn’t exist. Bacteria evolve to deal with antibiotics, hence antibiotic resistant strains. There’s also the peppered moth in England issue where environmental pressures affected which colorations survived and reproduced, and which didn’t.
 
Guest1 said:
Is there anything in the catechism that says Catholics can believe in evolution?
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Absolutely. CCC, para. 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. With Solomon they can say: “It is he who gave me unerring knowledge of what exists, to know the structure of the world and the activity of the elements. . . for wisdom, the fashioner of all things, taught me.”
 
Pope JPII famously said its more than a theory.
That’s good enough for me.
 
So say if you’re a Catholic that believes in Evolution how would you give evidence that Catholics can believe in that and that it can be logical?
 
Here is what the Catechism tells us:

"295 We believe that God created the world according to his wisdom. It is not the product of any necessity whatever, nor of blind fate or chance. We believe that it proceeds from God’s free will; he wanted to make his creatures share in his being, wisdom and goodness: “For you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” Therefore the Psalmist exclaims: “O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all”; and “The LORD is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.”
 
Guest1 said:
Is there anything in the catechism that says Catholics can believe in evolution?
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No, nothing specifically address this in the Catechism; however the CHURCH teaches that so long as seen as the First Cause and the sustainer of evolution it is OK. The exception is Man’s evolution; Man’s SOUL, and man’s exclusive rationality; NONE of which can have “evolved” from something else.

Easter Blessings,
Patrick
 
If you want to make a point on a Forum you need to actually do that rather than just place an article on the coffee table and walk off!

So what’s your point???

I don’t see what all the fuss is.
Even in my religion class at last year of school in 1976 we all knew that educated Catholics can take a variety of positions on the topic including evolution so long as the single set of parents thing was affirmed.

Using Ochkam’s razor back then (even before I could shave with it or even knew what it was) Creationism was too awkward to take seriously.

Those of us who don’t live in the USA find Catholics there seem to be in a time warp over this issue.
The rest of the Catholic world moved on from this in the 1960s. Perhaps the fundamentalist Christian movement there has influenced US opinion so deeply its even coopted less than widely travelled (both physically and educationally) lay Catholics. Its rather quaint.
 
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BlackFriar said:
The rest of the Catholic world moved on from this in the 1960s. Perhaps the fundamentalist Christian movement there has influenced US opinion so deeply its even coopted less than widely travelled (both physically and educationally) lay Catholics. Its rather quaint.
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Yes, I think so too. It’s not just the topic of evolution that is effected. There’s also the thinking on modesty, homosexuality, and probably some others like alcohol, which are effected by a puritanical Protestant-like Christianity. No offense to Protestants.
 
CCC #159 In short, says that science can never conflict with the faith provided it is carried out in a truly scientific manner and does not override moral laws. So yes, you can believe in evolution. I do. I believe the theory is sound.
 
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