Is the Kolbe Center legitimate?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ProLifeMommy
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
ProLifeMommy said:
“Temporary ban on discussing evolution???”
I can’t help but wonder WHY??? This sounds no different than public schools that ban any talk of God!!!
Click to expand...
“why?” Because unfortunately people get into huge shouting matches until they get banned. :sad_yes:

Fortunately, we are talking about curriculum, here. (though we should be careful to not slip into the other subject) 😉
 
Maybe this is overkill, but I want to be sure that it is clear that what was described in the first post is NOT the way Kolbe Academy and Kolbe Academy Homeschool approaches evolution etc. Their secular science is very good - in fact, it is one of the draws of the program for me. I am science minded, and thinking that my kids could be as well, I wanted to make sure that the science program they learned from was rigorous and a good prep for college science / careers in science. I felt most comfortable with Kolbe’s approach, using the best secular textbooks they can find, and then adding the Christian perspective in the lesson plans when necessary. This is a helpful way to prepare children to be able to interact with the secular world on such topics. A few years ago, someone asked about Kolbe Academy’s view of creation/evolution on their message board, as well as about if they had an association with the Kolbe Center mentioned in the OP, and this was one of the replies from an advisor:
As a follow-up, I’d like to re-emphasize that we have no affiliation at all with Kolbe Center. As Megan mentioned, we firmly hold to the teaching of the Catechism in regards to creation and evolution. In doing so, we read the resources Megan has mentioned. It is worth noting that while the book is by Cardinal Schonborn, he is writing as a private theologian, not in his capacity as a member of the magisterium of the Church. The book does not carry the nihil obstat or imprimatur, and we use it primarily as a vehicle for philosophical reflection on the relationships between faith and reason and theology and science, which we feel it does a very good job with. Please feel free to email me directly or give me a call if you’d like to discuss it with us.
Click to expand...
As a short answer, the Church has some “non-negotiables” in regards to beliefs of creation and evolution. One is the belief in creation ex nihilo, that God created everything from nothing, and another is the unique creation of each human soul. There are obviously other important teachings in regards to the issue as well, but the Church does leave open some areas to potential inquiry and investigation, which can result in differing opinions among people of good will.
Click to expand...
kolbeforum.org/viewtopic.php?t=3204&highlight=evolution
 
ThyKingdomCome said:
Maybe this is overkill, but I want to be sure that it is clear that what was described in the first post is NOT the way Kolbe Academy and Kolbe Academy Homeschool approaches evolution etc. Their secular science is very good - in fact, it is one of the draws of the program for me. I am science minded, and thinking that my kids could be as well, I wanted to make sure that the science program they learned from was rigorous and a good prep for college science / careers in science. I felt most comfortable with Kolbe’s approach, using the best secular textbooks they can find, and then adding the Christian perspective in the lesson plans when necessary. This is a helpful way to prepare children to be able to interact with the secular world on such topics. A few years ago, someone asked about Kolbe Academy’s view of creation/evolution on their message board, as well as about if they had an association with the Kolbe Center mentioned in the OP, and this was one of the replies from an advisor:

kolbeforum.org/viewtopic.php?t=3204&highlight=evolution
Click to expand...
Yes, that was my initial draw to Kolbe as well. My kids were already using Harcourt Science in the DoD schools before I withdrew them. I loved them already. It is an excellent program.
 
ThyKingdomCome said:
Maybe this is overkill, but I want to be sure that it is clear that what was described in the first post is NOT the way Kolbe Academy and Kolbe Academy Homeschool approaches evolution etc. Their secular science is very good - in fact, it is one of the draws of the program for me. I am science minded, and thinking that my kids could be as well, I wanted to make sure that the science program they learned from was rigorous and a good prep for college science / careers in science. I felt most comfortable with Kolbe’s approach, using the best secular textbooks they can find, and then adding the Christian perspective in the lesson plans when necessary. This is a helpful way to prepare children to be able to interact with the secular world on such topics. A few years ago, someone asked about Kolbe Academy’s view of creation/evolution on their message board, as well as about if they had an association with the Kolbe Center mentioned in the OP, and this was one of the replies from an advisor.
kolbeforum.org/viewtopic.php?t=3204&highlight=evolution
Click to expand...
NOT overkill AT ALL!!! I echo your sentiments regarding science & cannot thank you enough for providing this Kolbe Forum response from one of their reps. After the abysmal discussion I had yesterday with the Deacon from Seton who is in charge of their science program, I thought to myself, “Well, I better call Kolbe and find out what’s goin’ on behind the scenes there!” The Deacon had me on the phone trying to convince me that Harcourt science anti-God – while — at the same time, trying to convince me that Seton is “open-minded to both sides of science.” He told me that Seton had been using Harcourt science until they received so many comments from parents asking them to stop using Harcourt. I began to wonder if Kolbe Academy would be next in doing the same. However, after reading the quote you provided from their rep, I am relieved and feel confident that they won’t. I greatly appreaciate you taking the time to pass this along! God Bless you!
 
Quote from Kolbe Academy rep: “It is worth noting that while the book is by Cardinal Schonborn, he is writing as a private theologian, not in his capacity as a member of the magisterium of the Church. The book does not carry the nihil obstat or imprimatur”

–I just wanted to mention that a cardinal/bishop does not need to go and get an nihil obstat or an imprimatur because he is already a bishop. Where would he go to get one?
I LOVE that they use Cardinal Schonenborn’s book!!! This is wonderful news!!!
Thanks to both you and 7armyrugrats for taking the time to share your thoughts/comment/experiences with Kolbe!!! God Bless you!!!🙂
 
As a short answer, the Church has some “non-negotiables” in regards to beliefs of creation and evolution. One is the belief in creation ex nihilo, that God created everything from nothing, and another is the unique creation of each human soul. There are obviously other important teachings in regards to the issue as well, but the Church does leave open some areas to potential inquiry and investigation, which can result in differing opinions among people of good will.
Click to expand...
One of the more difficult Catholic “non-negotiables” regarding beliefs about creation is the fact that all humanity are descendants of one couple, lovingly known as Adam and Eve in the first three chapters of Genesis.
 
grannymh said:
One of the more difficult Catholic “non-negotiables” regarding beliefs about creation is the fact that all humanity are descendants of one couple, lovingly known as Adam and Eve in the first three chapters of Genesis.
Click to expand...
This is not a “difficult, Catholic non-negotiable” at all!

“Concerning human evolution, the Church’s teaching allows for the possibility that man’s body developed from previous biological forms, under God’s guidance, but it insists on the special creation of his soul. Pope Pius XII declared that “the teaching authority of the Church does not forbid that, in conformity with the present state of human sciences and sacred theology, research and discussions . . . take place with regard to the doctrine of evolution, in as far as it inquires into the origin of the human body as coming from pre-existent and living matter—[but] the Catholic faith obliges us to hold that souls are immediately created by God” (Pius XII, Humani Generis 36). So whether the human body was specially created or developed, we are required to hold as a matter of Catholic faith that the human soul is specially created; it did not evolve, and it is not inherited from our parents, as our bodies are.”

catholic.com/tracts/adam-eve-and-evolution
 
ProLifeMommy said:
This is not a “difficult, Catholic non-negotiable” at all!

“Concerning human evolution, the Church’s teaching allows for the possibility that man’s body developed from previous biological forms, under God’s guidance, but it insists on the special creation of his soul. Pope Pius XII declared that “the teaching authority of the Church does not forbid that, in conformity with the present state of human sciences and sacred theology, research and discussions . . . take place with regard to the doctrine of evolution, in as far as it inquires into the origin of the human body as coming from pre-existent and living matter—[but] the Catholic faith obliges us to hold that souls are immediately created by God” (Pius XII, Humani Generis 36). So whether the human body was specially created or developed, we are required to hold as a matter of Catholic faith that the human soul is specially created; it did not evolve, and it is not inherited from our parents, as our bodies are.”

catholic.com/tracts/adam-eve-and-evolution
Click to expand...
Granny was referring to a later part of the same tract that reads:
Adam and Eve: Real People

It is equally impermissible to dismiss the story of Adam and Eve and the fall (Gen. 2–3) as a fiction. A question often raised in this context is whether the human race descended from an original pair of two human beings (a teaching known as monogenism) or a pool of early human couples (a teaching known as polygenism).

In this regard, Pope Pius XII stated: “When, however, there is question of another conjectural opinion, namely polygenism, the children of the Church by no means enjoy such liberty. For the faithful cannot embrace that opinion which maintains either that after Adam there existed on this earth true men who did not take their origin through natural generation from him as from the first parents of all, or that Adam represents a certain number of first parents. Now, it is in no way apparent how such an opinion can be reconciled that which the sources of revealed truth and the documents of the teaching authority of the Church proposed with regard to original sin which proceeds from a sin actually committed by an individual Adam in which through generation is passed onto all and is in everyone as his own” (Humani Generis 37).

The story of the creation and fall of man is a true one, even if not written entirely according to modern literary techniques. The Catechism states, “The account of the fall in Genesis 3 uses figurative language, but affirms a primeval event, a deed that took place at the beginning of the history of man. Revelation gives us the certainty of faith that the whole of human history is marked by the original fault freely committed by our first parents” (CCC 390).
 
Originally Posted by grannymh forums.catholic-questions.org/images/buttons_khaki/viewpost.gif
One of the more difficult Catholic “non-negotiables” regarding beliefs about creation is the fact that all humanity are descendants of one couple, lovingly known as Adam and Eve in the first three chapters of Genesis.
ProLifeMommy said:
This is not a “difficult, Catholic non-negotiable” at all!

“Concerning human evolution, the Church’s teaching allows for the possibility that man’s body developed from previous biological forms, under God’s guidance, but it insists on the special creation of his soul. Pope Pius XII declared that “the teaching authority of the Church does not forbid that, in conformity with the present state of human sciences and sacred theology, research and discussions . . . take place with regard to the doctrine of evolution, in as far as it inquires into the origin of the human body as coming from pre-existent and living matter—[but] the Catholic faith obliges us to hold that souls are immediately created by God” (Pius XII, Humani Generis 36). So whether the human body was specially created or developed, we are required to hold as a matter of Catholic faith that the human soul is specially created; it did not evolve, and it is not inherited from our parents, as our bodies are.”

catholic.com/tracts/adam-eve-and-evolution
Click to expand...
May I gently update you regarding the evolution model in this century. Due to a variety of research papers, it has been “scientifically” claimed that the existence of Adam and Eve is impossible. This is a big step up from dealing with a material, decomposing anatomy.

One of the must-reads on the subject of population genetics are the first and last chapters by Dr. Ann Gauger, molecular biologist, in the new paperback Science & Human Origins by Ann Gauger, Douglas Axe, and Casey Luskin.
ISBN-13: 978-1-936599-04-2 (paperback)

Be aware that the middle chapters of this book will not appeal to everyone. What is most important is the explanation of current evolution science plus the review of science literature by Dr. Gauger in chapters 1 and 5.

Note: in addition to Humani Generis #36, sections #35 and #37 are also informative.
 
Just in case anyone comes across this old thread…

I’m a regional leader for the Kolbe Center for the Study of Creation.

The Kolbe Center and Kolbe Academy are two different organizations. If anyone has any questions about the Kolbe Center, please check out the website.

kolbecenter.org/

God bless.
 
Yes it is and I’m happy to report I have met the founder and he is a godly man and a traditional Catholic. His name is Hugh Owen.

I found this old thread in the search engines as I was searching for the “real” Kolbe Center for Creation.
 
This, I know is long after your initial question, but I have recently, myself, discovered a new source on the topic of the thread that might shed some extra light:
Metaphysics of Evolution by Fr. Chad Ripperger (FSSP)

Also it is really hard to reconcile the doctrine of THE Immaculate Conception with evolution.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top