Michael Brooks
The Catholic Church has never had a quarrel with the idea of evolution or with the Darwinian theory of natural selection acting on random genetic mutations. Catholics are free to accept evolution, either as a scientific hypothesis or as a philosophical speculation. The Church has made no pronouncement upon evolution, and it is not within its role to pass judgment on questions that belong to the empirical sciences. The Church teaches that evolution occurs and the modern evolutionary synthesis, which is the scientific theory that explains how evolution proceeds. This is the same evolution curriculum that secular schools teach. The Church has played a significant role in the development of science over the last two thousand years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official position on evolution | The Catholic Church has no official position on whether various life forms developed over time. |
| Compatibility with Catholic faith | The Church has stated that evolution is not inconsistent with Catholic teachings and is compatible with the Christian conception of the universe. |
| Interpretation of evolution | The Church interprets evolution as occurring under the guidance of God and ascribes the ultimate creation to Him. |
| Human evolution | The Church distinguishes between the evolution of the human body and soul, allowing for the possibility that the body evolved from previous forms but insisting on the special creation of the soul by God. |
| Catholic scholars' views | The majority of Catholic scientists, philosophers, and theologians accept the truth of biological evolution. |
| Catholic laity's views | Surveys show that most U.S. Catholics accept the idea of evolution in some form, but a substantial percentage reject the scientific explanation for human origins. |
| Catholic education | Catholic schools teach evolution as a scientific theory while also providing religious instruction on God as the Creator, aiming for an integrated understanding. |
| Prominent Catholic figures' views | Pope Francis, Pope John Paul II, Pope Pius XII, and Cardinal Ratzinger have expressed views affirming the compatibility of evolution with Catholic faith. |
| Catholic organizations' views | Several organizations composed of Catholic laity and clergy have advocated for positions both supporting and opposing evolution. |
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What You'll Learn
Catholics are free to accept evolution
The Catechism puts it this way: “Methodical research in all branches of knowledge, provided it is carried out in a truly scientific manner and does not override moral laws, can never conflict with the faith, because the things of the world and the things of the faith derive from the same God.” In other words, the Catholic Church has no fear of science or scientific discovery.
Cardinal Paul Poupard added that “the faithful have the obligation to listen to that which secular modern science has to offer, just as we ask that knowledge of the faith be taken into consideration as an expert voice in humanity.” Pope Francis has also reaffirmed the Roman Catholic Church’s view that “evolution in nature is not inconsistent” with church teaching on creation.
The Catholic Church's general attitude toward evolution can be summarised as follows: Catholics are free to accept evolution as long as God is understood to be the origin of all things. This is known as theistic evolution, the reconciliation between science and religion. The Church teaches that if life forms did develop over time, they did so under the guidance of God, and their ultimate creation must be ascribed to him. This is consistent with the Catholic faith as long as the spiritual soul is understood to have been conferred by God directly upon the first human beings, as upon all subsequent human beings.
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Evolution is compatible with Catholic faith
The Catholic Church has never had a quarrel with the idea of evolution, nor has it ever condemned it. Catholics are free to accept evolution as a scientific hypothesis or a philosophical speculation. The Church has made no pronouncement on the matter, and therefore Catholics are free to follow the evidence wherever it may lead.
The Church's silence on the issue has allowed Catholics to take a range of positions on the topic. Some Catholics have taken an integrated approach, teaching that evolution occurs and that it is the same as the evolution curriculum taught in secular schools. This view is supported by Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo of Richmond, chair of the Committee on Science and Human Values, who wrote in a letter to all US bishops in 2004: "Catholic schools should continue teaching evolution as a scientific theory backed by convincing evidence."
Cardinal Paul Poupard added that "the faithful have the obligation to listen to that which secular modern science has to offer, just as we ask that knowledge of the faith be taken in consideration as an expert voice in humanity." This view is supported by the majority of Catholic scientists, philosophers, and theologians, who have accepted the truth of biological evolution for many decades.
The Catholic Church's general attitude towards evolution can be summarised as one of reconciliation between science and religion. Catholics do not take a literal interpretation of the Bible, and therefore do not have the same issues with evolution as fundamentalist Christians. Instead, they believe that evolution can be seen as part of God's plan, with God guiding the process of evolution. Pope Pius XII declared:
> 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.
This view is supported by Pope Francis, who reaffirmed the Roman Catholic Church's stance that "evolution in nature is not inconsistent" with church teaching on creation. Pope John Paul II also supported this position, calling evolution "more than a hypothesis" in 1996.
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Catholics are not biblical literalists
The Catholic Church has never had a quarrel with the idea of evolution, nor has it ever condemned it. Catholics are therefore free to accept evolution, either as a scientific hypothesis or as a philosophical speculation. The Church has no fear of science or scientific discovery, and Catholics are not biblical literalists.
While Catholic scholarship has moved beyond literalism in its interpretation of the Bible, many of the faithful have not. Familiarizing Catholics with the Bible and its interpretation is a continuous challenge. According to many studies, Catholics are among the most biblically illiterate Americans. While teaching Bible basics remains a major task, a more pressing and troublesome concern is the growth among Catholics of biblical literalism, also known as biblical fundamentalism. Fundamentalists assert that the Bible is without historical or scientific error and should be read literally in all its details. According to a 2007 Gallup survey, 21% of US Catholics identify themselves as biblical literalists.
The Catechism tells us that there are three spiritual senses of Scripture: the allegorical, the moral, and the anagogical. The allegorical sense refers to how any given event in the Bible can be understood in a more profound way by recognizing its significance in Christ. For example, the story of the Passover meal can be seen as a sign pointing to the Passion and death of Christ.
Catholics take the Bible in the literal sense and in the spiritual sense. The spiritual sense depends on the former; the former is given deeper meaning and significance by the latter. Both are important to a proper understanding of Scripture. However, Catholics do not just look at the words on the page and necessarily take them at face value. If they did so, they might not properly understand what the author was trying to tell them. The literal meaning of a passage is the meaning the author of that passage intended to convey. It can sometimes be difficult to discern. That’s why Catholics have to look to authentic Catholic Scripture scholarship for help and, more importantly, to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church for help in understanding the Scriptures.
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The Church has no quarrel with evolution
The Catholic Church has never had a quarrel with the idea of evolution. Catholics are free to accept evolution as a scientific hypothesis or a philosophical speculation. This is because the Church has made no pronouncement upon evolution, and the theory does not contradict the belief that God is the origin of all things.
The Church's silence on the matter is not a new development. For almost a hundred years after Darwin published his theory in 1859, the Church said virtually nothing. When the Church did begin to comment, it was to clarify that the theory of evolution is not a complete, scientifically proven theory. Pope Pius XII's 1950 encyclical "Humani Generis" stated that Catholic teachings on creation could coexist with evolutionary theory. Pope John Paul II went further in 1996, calling evolution "more than a hypothesis". Pope Francis has also reaffirmed the Roman Catholic Church's view that "evolution in nature is not inconsistent" with church teaching on creation.
The Catholic Church's acceptance of evolution is reflected in Catholic schools, where 86% of principals reported taking an integrated approach to science and religion, teaching "evolution, the Big Bang, and the Book of Genesis" together in classes. Catholic schools should continue teaching evolution as a scientific theory backed by convincing evidence, while also ensuring that students receive appropriate catechesis on God as the Creator.
The Church's position on evolution is that if life forms did develop over time, they did so under the guidance of God, and their ultimate creation must be ascribed to Him. This is known as theistic evolution, the reconciliation between science and religion held by many Catholics. This position is not in conflict with the faith, because, as the Catechism puts it, "the things of the world and the things of the faith derive from the same God".
While the Church has no quarrel with evolution, it is important to note that this acceptance does not extend to the evolution of the human soul. The Church insists on the special creation of the human soul by God, as it is spiritual and cannot be explained by any merely material process.
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Evolution is taught in Catholic schools
The Catholic Church has never had a quarrel with the idea of evolution and has never condemned it. In fact, the Church has a very well-established scientific and research wing. The Church does not reject evolution, unlike other denominations. Catholics are free to accept evolution as a scientific hypothesis or a philosophical speculation. Pope John Paul II himself said that one could believe in evolution and still be a Catholic. Catholic schools teach evolution as part of their science curriculum, and it is the same evolution curriculum that secular schools teach. Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo of Richmond, chair of the Committee on Science and Human Values, wrote in a letter sent to all U.S. bishops in December 2004:
> Catholic schools should continue teaching evolution as a scientific theory backed by convincing evidence. At the same time, Catholic parents whose children are in public schools should ensure that their children are also receiving appropriate catechesis at home and in the parish on God as Creator. Students should be able to leave their biology classes and their courses in religious instruction with an integrated understanding of the means God chose to make us who we are.
Catholic schools in the United States and other countries teach evolution as part of their science curriculum. They teach that evolution occurs and that modern evolutionary synthesis is how evolution proceeds. Catholics' contributions to the development of evolutionary theory included those of the Augustinian friar Gregor Mendel (1822-1884). Mendel trained as a scientist at the Olmutz Philosophical Institute and at the University of Vienna.
A survey of principals and teachers of science and religion at Catholic high schools in the United States indicates some attitudes toward the teaching of evolution. 86% of principals reported that their schools took an integrated approach to science and religion, in which "evolution, the Big Bang, and the Book of Genesis" were addressed together in classes. On specific topics, 95% of science teachers and 79% of religion teachers agreed that "evolution by natural selection" explains "the diversity of life on earth". Only 21% of science teachers and 32% of religion teachers believed that "Adam and Eve were real historical people". A companion survey of Catholic adults found that 65% of those who had attended a Catholic high school believed in evolution compared to 53% of those who did not attend.
The Catholic Church's position on evolution can be understood through the concept of theistic evolution, also known as evolutionary creation. This perspective holds that evolution is guided by God's plan, with the belief that God is the ultimate creator. Pope Pius XII stated:
> 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, insofar 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.
Interpretive Christians, which include Catholics, interpret the Bible and decide for themselves what to believe. This allows Catholics to interpret certain aspects of the Bible in light of scientific discoveries. For example, Catholics do not interpret everything in the Bible literally. They acknowledge that the stories in Genesis are part of a creation myth, crafted to compete with other ancient creation myths. This interpretive approach enables Catholics to reconcile their faith with scientific theories, including evolution.
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