Ethan Walker
The Catholic Church does not reject evolution, and it is taught in Catholic schools and universities. The Church holds no official position on the theory of evolution or creationism, leaving the specifics to the individual within certain parameters established by the Church. Catholics are encouraged to interpret the Bible themselves, and Catholic theology has allowed for biblical text to be read allegorically, rather than literally, where it appears to contradict scientific discovery.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official position of the Catholic Church on evolution | The Catholic Church holds no official position on the theory of evolution, leaving the specifics to the individual within certain parameters established by the Church. |
| Catholics' contribution to evolutionary theory | Catholics such as Augustinian friar Gregor Mendel have contributed to the development of evolutionary theory. |
| Catholic Church's stance on evolution | The Catholic Church does not reject evolution. |
| Catholic schools' teaching on evolution | Catholic schools teach evolution, but not as a fact. They teach the pros and cons of evolution. |
| Catholic interpretation of the Bible | Catholics interpret the Bible figuratively rather than literally. |
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What You'll Learn
The Catholic Church's stance on evolution
The Catholic Church does not reject evolution. In fact, Catholics have contributed to the development of evolutionary theory, including the Augustinian friar Gregor Mendel, who discovered the basis of genetics. The Church holds no official position on the theory of evolution or creation, leaving the specifics to the individual. Catholics may accept either literal or special creation within a six-day period or believe that the earth evolved under God's guidance.
The Church's stance on evolution is that it does not contradict its teachings. Even before the development of modern scientific methods, Catholic theology allowed for biblical texts to be interpreted allegorically rather than literally. This has allowed Catholicism to refine its understanding of scripture in light of scientific discoveries. For instance, the concept of "special transformism" reconciles evolutionary theory with the origin of the human species with a soul. According to this concept, the first humans evolved through Darwinist processes until God added a soul to form the first fully human individuals.
However, some Catholic sources emphasize that evolution should not be taught as fact but instead presented with its pros and cons. This perspective acknowledges that evolution does not answer certain theological questions, such as St Thomas Aquinas's "uncaused cause." The Catholic Church's scientific and research wing engages in debates about the compatibility of faith and science, with some arguing that faith and science need not be antithetical.
Catholic schools, which are generally public and required to follow a set syllabus, teach evolution as part of their science curriculum. While there may be variations in how evolution is taught depending on the denomination and leadership of the school, teaching solely creationism risks losing accreditation and affecting the recognition of students' degrees.
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Evolution taught alongside creationism
The Catholic Church does not reject evolution and has no official position on the theory of creation or evolution. It leaves the specifics of either theistic evolution or literal creationism to the individual within certain parameters established by the Church. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, believers may accept either literal or special creation within a six-day, twenty-four-hour period, or they may accept the belief that the earth evolved over time under God's guidance. This interpretation falls under interpretive Christianity, where individuals decide for themselves.
Catholic schools teach evolution as part of their science curriculum. They teach that evolution occurs and that modern evolutionary synthesis is how evolution proceeds. However, they also teach creationism alongside evolution. The Church supports theistic evolution, or evolutionary creation, which states that God created all things and that individual souls are a direct creation by God and not the product of material forces. This belief is known as special transformism, where the first humans evolved through Darwinist processes until God added a soul to "pre-existent and living matter" to form the first fully human individuals.
Catholicism has refined its understanding of scripture in light of scientific discovery. Catholic theology has allowed for biblical text to be read allegorically rather than literally, where it appeared to contradict scientific or rational findings. This flexibility has allowed the Church to accept certain evolutionary theories while still maintaining that God initiated and continued the process of creation and that Adam and Eve were real people.
While the Church permits belief in either special creation or developmental creation, it does not allow belief in atheistic evolution. Catholics are expected to weigh the evidence for the universe's age by examining both biblical and scientific evidence. The Church has determined that the universe is of finite age and that its creation was initiated by God, but it has not defined whether this occurred thousands or billions of years ago.
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Interpretations of the Bible
The Catholic Church does not reject evolution and allows for the biblical text to be read allegorically rather than literally. This means that the Church's understanding of scripture can be refined in light of scientific discovery. For example, Catholics are allowed to accept either literal or special creation within a six-day, twenty-four-hour period, or that the earth evolved over time under God's guidance. Interpretive Christians, such as Catholics, decide for themselves how to interpret the Bible.
The interpretation of sacred Scripture requires full participation on the part of exegetes in the life and faith of the believing community of their own time. Saint Bonaventure states that without faith, there is no key to interpreting the sacred text. Saint Jerome also recalls that Scripture can never be read in isolation. The Bible was written by the People of God and only within the faith of this People can we truly enter and understand sacred Scripture. An authentic interpretation of the Bible must always be in harmony with the faith of the Catholic Church.
Saint Augustine famously said:
> I would not believe the Gospel, had not the authority of the Catholic Church led me to do so.
The Catholic Church has a well-established scientific/research wing and has contributed to the development of evolutionary theory. For example, the Augustinian friar Gregor Mendel discovered the basis of genetics following a long study of the inherited characteristics of pea plants. Mendel's observations provided an explanation for how a new species could emerge.
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Catholics' contributions to evolutionary theory
The Catholic Church does not reject evolution and has not attacked the theory of evolution as applied to non-human species. In fact, the Church has made contributions to the development of evolutionary theory. The Catholic Church holds no official position on the theory of creation or evolution, leaving the specifics of either theistic evolution or literal creationism to the individual within certain parameters established by the Church.
Catholic scientists such as the Augustinian friar Gregor Mendel, who discovered the basis of genetics, have made early contributions to biology. Mendel's work provided an explanation for how a new species could emerge, complementing Darwin's theories, which suggested a mechanism for the improvement of species over generations.
Another Catholic contribution to evolutionary theory is the concept of "special transformism", which reconciles general evolutionary theory with the origin of the human species with a soul. According to this concept, the first humans evolved through Darwinist processes until God added a soul to "pre-existent and living matter" to form the first fully human individuals.
The Danish scientist Nicolas Steno, who converted to Catholicism and became a bishop, also contributed to evolutionary theory by helping establish the science of geology, leading to modern scientific measurements of the Earth's age.
The German Jesuit entomologist Erich Wasmann, a second-generation Catholic evolutionist, argued that his work on ants supported the concept of transformism. However, he did not believe that all living things descended from a single first organism, defending a polyphyletic origin of life.
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Evolution as a theory vs. scientific fact
The Catholic Church does not reject evolution. In fact, Catholics have contributed to the development of evolutionary theory, including the Augustinian friar Gregor Mendel, who discovered the basis of genetics. The Church holds no official position on the theory of creation or evolution, leaving the specifics to the individual within certain parameters. Catholics are encouraged to interpret the Bible themselves, and it is not supposed to be taken literally.
Evolution is widely considered a theory and a fact. In science, a fact can describe a repeatable observation capable of great consensus, while a theory is a well-substantiated explanation of such facts. In the case of evolution, the facts come from observational evidence of current processes, imperfections in organisms recording historical common descent, and transitions in the fossil record. Theories of evolution provide a provisional explanation for these facts.
Evolutionary biology is a strong and vigorous field of science, and there is abundant evidence demonstrating the action of evolutionary mechanisms. It is an incontrovertible fact that organisms have changed, or evolved, during the history of life on Earth. Evolutionary biology provides a scientific framework for understanding the changes that have occurred since the first life forms arose on Earth.
There are several theories about the mechanisms of evolution, and there is still active debate about specific mechanisms. For example, Darwin's theory of evolution through natural selection proposed a mechanism for the improvement of species over generations, while Mendel's observations provided an explanation for how a new species could emerge.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, evolution is taught at Catholic universities. The Catholic Church does not reject evolution and has a well-established scientific and research wing. The Church holds no official position on the theory of creation or evolution, leaving the specifics to the individual.
The Catholic Church has not attacked the theory of evolution as applied to non-human species. Catholics are generally Interpretive Christians, meaning they decide for themselves whether to interpret the Bible literally or figuratively. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, believers may accept either literal or special creation within a six-day, twenty-four-hour period, or that the earth evolved over time under God's guidance.
Evolution is taught as a scientific fact in Catholic schools, but there is some debate within the Church about how it should be taught. Pope Pius XII stated that "evolution must not be taught as fact, but instead the pros and cons of evolution must be taught". Catholic schools are generally public schools and are required to follow a set syllabus.
