What is taught in Catholic biology classes?

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Young or old Earth creationism? What about evolution and genetics? Cell function?
 
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When I was in high school, a very strict, traditional Catholic school, we were taught all the basics: molecular and cell biology, evolution, genetics, ecology, physiology and biochemistry, among other disciplines. Catholicism views creation and science as complementary. Why would anything different be taught?
 
Edward George1 has already answered but I wish to add a comment.

Creationism, young earth or old earth, is not science. It is theology, and it belongs in theology class.
 
At my Catholic school, we were taught college prep biology, such as dominant and recessive genes, the digestive tract of the earthworm, and the ever-popular dissection of fetal pigs. I am still trying to figure out why anyone cares so much about the internals of earthworms, but a test I took on that subject helped me get a large scholarship to college, where I most certainly did NOT study any more biology. One pig dissection was way more than enough.

The class was taught by a former sister.

I do not recall any issue even remotely of a religious nature coming up, and why would it? It was science class, not a religion course. Catholics aren’t fundamentalists and I was about 35 years old before I even heard of “creationism”.
 
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Fr, I understand you point, and do not necessarily disagree, but I will say I hope you are wrong about no “Catholic biology”. Modern science was largely founded by the Church’s long desire to understand God’s creation, and hence perhaps better understand God. No other institution, secular or religious, proclaims there can never be a conflict between faith and this understanding. I do hope there will always be Catholic biology, physics, chemistry, etc. It has a long and proud history.
 
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You hope I’m wrong, or are you actually saying I’m wrong? In any case, the point I’m trying to make is that “biology” is not something that is distinctively “Catholic.” Biology as taught in Catholic schools should be no different from biology as taught anywhere else. It isn’t as though a Catholic view of biology would be any different than anyone else’s. I’m obviously not denying the heritage of the modern sciences, and I don’t think I said anything that indicates that.
 
In my workplace we teach biology 🙂 it’s compatible with catholic teaching 🙂
 
There are many different things taught in all the various schools.
 
I first encountered the concept of evolution (at least formally) in a High School theology class. And it. wasn’t very sympathetic to tying God’s hands with literalism. . . .
 
dochawk said:
I first encountered the concept of evolution (at least formally) in a High School theology class. And it. wasn’t very sympathetic to tying God’s hands with literalism. . . .
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Ditto here. It was treated as a bizarre Evangelical Protestant phenomenon, and not supported by Catholic teachings.
 
Oh no, not this again :roll_eyes: the thread that won’t die already reincarnated in the abiogenesis thread.
 
AlbMagno said:
Oh no, not this again :roll_eyes: the thread that won’t die already reincarnated in the abiogenesis thread.
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Oh, has this been a thing on the forum lately? I jumped into the abiogenesis thread not realizing there was a recent history. 🥵

Peace and God bless!
 
I homeschool using Catholic curricula here and there. The Catholic science books will, at most, provide some occasional non-scientific Catholic commentary, e.g. “Isn’t it amazing that God designed our bodies this way?”

But science doesn’t have a religion anymore than math does.
 
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