What exactly did the pope say about his agreement with evolution?
152555
http://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_jp02tc.htm
1111102
Just commenting on Darwin's deathbed:\n\n< Shortly after his death, Lady Hope addressed a gathering of young men and women at the educational establishment founded by the evangelist Dwight Lyman Moody at Northfield, Massachusetts. She had, she maintained, visited Darwin on his deathbed. He had been reading the Epistle to the Hebrews, had asked for the local Sunday school to sing in a summerhouse on the grounds, and had confessed: "How I wish I had not expressed my theory of evolution as I have done." He went on, she said, to say that he would like her to gather a congregation since he "would like to speak to them of Christ Jesus and His salvation, being in a state where he was eagerly savouring the heavenly anticipation of bliss."\n\nWith Moody's encouragement, Lady Hope's story was printed in the Boston Watchman Examiner. The story spread, and the claims were republished as late as October 1955 in the Reformation Review and in the Monthly Record of the Free Church of Scotland in February 1957. These attempts to fudge Darwin's story had already been exposed for what they were, first by his daughter Henrietta after they had been revived in 1922. "I was present at his deathbed," she wrote in the Christian for February 23, 1922. "Lady Hope was not present during his last illness, or any illness. I believe he never even saw her, but in any case she had no influence over him in any department of thought or belief. He never recanted any of his scientific views, either then or earlier. We think the story of his conversion was fabricated in the U.S.A. . . . The whole story has no foundation whatever." >\n\n(I call that bearing false witness. For shame.)\n\nThe research I've done on pro-creationist "scientists" indicate that most of them are associated with religious schools. No surprise there.
1180742
It is not wrong or a contradiction.  Many scientists who study the evolution of species are Christians.  Also, many prominent Christian figures (such as the Pope) have expressed their support for evolution.\n\nThe sentiment most often expressed by Christian scientists is: \n"Science may explain the origins of the body, but only God can explain the origins of the soul."\n\nHere's a link for the pope thing if you're interested:\nhttp://www.catholic.net/RCC/Periodicals/Dossier/0102-97/Article3.html
314054
We know that evolution exists. Science can prove it. We also know that modern man was created by God, the Bible proves that! So what about all those creatures that existed on the Earth for hundreds of thousands of years? Of course they evolved. And some of them very much resemble modern man. But God said He created us in His image. Maybe not necessarily physically, God doesn't have a body! But the difference between us and those creatures is indeed that "missing link" that cannot be "found". The link is God. The difference is that we (modern man) were created with a free will. No other creatures have ever had that. \n\nIf you read Genesis 1:1 you see that God created the heaven and earth. But something very drastic happened probably over a very long period of time between verse one and two because we see in verse two that the earth was without form, and void...\nNow what does God create that is without form and void? Nothing! Everything God creates is perfect.\nSo what happened and how many years passed between verse one and verse two? Science tells us that, there's no mystery. Creatures of all kinds evolved, the popular idea is something hit the earth and tilted it on it's axis. That triggered all kinds of weather changes, ice ages countered by global warming (without benefit of fossil fuels I might add), dinosaurs lived and died off. Primitive man-like creatures became dominant. It's all there!\n\nSo yes, you can believe in God and understand that creatures indeed evolved. But modern man, with all of his uniqueness, was created by God.\n\nNow concerning your lack of passion for your faith... read Acts Chapter 2 in the New Testament a couple of times and see if that piques your interest. I'll guarantee you have never been taught that in the catholic church. You need to ask yourself why. It is clear by the scriptures that Jesus intends that everyone with a love for the truth receive the gift of the Holy Ghost just as described in Acts 2. Read it again! It still happens just that way. It's still real. I see it every week. I see the power of the Spirit being used through ordinary people like you and me. Ordinary people like Jesus and the disciples were. Jesus didn't come and die so that we would have to seek everything we needed through a priest. He came that we could boldy go directly to Him with our needs. That is scripture! You need forgiveness? You need to ask Jesus, not another man. You need compassion and love? Ask Jesus, don't ask another man. Do you want to understand exactly what He has for you in this life and the next? You need to ask Him, not some portly old fellow in a black robe. Ask God directly. Go boldly to the throne and tell Him you need to know more. You will be amazed what you will experience if you are sincere and have enough character!\n\nUpdate 5-1-06\nI read with interest one of the answers below that demonstrates exactly what is wrong with the churches today. Sure, just ask someone (other than God). And if you don't like that answer just go ask someone else. That say's two things:\n1. The "authotities" in the churches don't even agree on truth.\n2. People only are interested in what they want to hear.\n\nThat's what I meant when I said God will show you the truth if you seek it from Him with a true desire to know. Why ask another man who has no clue anyway? We are talking about something as important as the salvation of your soul. Why wouldn't you go directly to the source if the source asked, indeed pleaded with you, to do so?\nAnd Paul absolutely did not encourage people to believe whichever way was best for them. He wrote to the Ephesians in Ep. 4:5 that there is "One Lord, one faith, one baptism". You see this repeated throughout the New Testament. There are not many paths to God, there is one.  Please, read the scriptures for yourself. You do not need someone to interpret the Bible for you. Let God show you
1021867
I looked for the statement by Cardinal Castrillon but couldn't find it. So I can't state an opinion.\n\nPlease add a link next time. \n\nThank you.
797839
I find it horrifying the amount of lies that Ted Haggard stated in that video. He clearly does not understand the theory of evolution, and the problem is that many people look up to him and take what he says as being passed down from God. In their minds, it's a war between God and the scientists, and this frame has been given to them by evangelicals like Ted Haggard.\n\nI don't understand how texascrazyhorse can say 'I don't agree with Richard Dawkins' (except for the obvious explanation, which is that he's from Texas, Bible Belt central). Everything Dawkins claims has been forged through the scientific method; it was built off evidence and then placed before skeptics who attempted to disprove it. What we are left with is the theory of evolution today. If you 'don't agree' with it, then you should not agree with modern medicine, or any of the technological wonders we have. You should never visit a hospital; you should pray that God heals you. Good luck.
1040200
Catholicism.\n\nJP II made it clear a few years back that all Catholics should embrace evolution.\n\nIt sounds crazy, but it's true.
351353
Let me begin by saying that I always enjoy reading your answers and very often you beat me to the punch with an explanation that is more coherent than I could likely come up with. Excellent work.\n\nI think that much of the issue here comes back to the basic divisiveness of faith. It makes sense for each religion to clearly define lines between "us" and "them." Jesus might have believed in peace and love, much like a modern day hippie, but the only real way to gather people around a common idea is to give them a common enemy. These days it's considered relatively poor taste to engage in crusades against Muslims, or chase Jews out of town for drinking the blood of the Christian born, so modern-day Christians have needed to unite against a new common enemy, evolutionists. Strangely, the only group of Christians now required to agree with us are the Catholics, based on JPII's statments that evolution is the most likely explanation for the current state of the world. Then again, many Protestants have issues with Catholics (and Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mormons), but I think their favorite target du jour is the atheistic evolutionists.\n\nOne of the nice things about scapegoating is that you don't really have to define what is so terrible about the goats. Most of the time you can just point a finger and shriek. Pretty soon the rest of the mob will join in. As far as I know there has been no theory put forth by the creationist camp as to the "true" motives of evolutionists. Clearly most middle-of-the-road Christians (well, the ones who don't agree with us) feel that we've just studied the world and come to the wrong conclusions. However, many others likely feel that there is a nefarious agenda behind evolutionist ideas. Fortunately, they have a catch-all go-to-guy when it comes to nefarious agendas. Anything that isn't "godlike" is always attributed to this character. What's his name? Could it be...Satan?\n\nI'm sure that there are creationists out there who think that most evolutionists are on Satan's payroll and will be driving big gold Cadillacs around shortly after the Rapture. Sadly, no amount of reasoning on our part will get them to think any differently. In the meantime they will continue to see all of us as part of some cabal in Satan's service. It's strange to think that there was a time when only heavy-metal bands and role-playing-gamers were part of The Devil's army, now it seems that a degree in biochemistry is a standard recruitment tactic. \n\nWell, keep up the good work, and I'll see you at the meetings.
447743
Nothing. It's something you can't understand unless you believe. I can't understand how people believe but I have to accept that they do. Trying to control what christians believe and endeavouring to get them to change their minds about evolution is making yourself just as bad the people who preach that you're sinner and going to burn in hell and that you were made out of clay in the form of an intangible being.\nLet is fly. Freedom of thought, freedom of expression. If you're for it youcan't control it. xxx
1114799
There is NONE! Everything he wrote was thought up! - And proven WRONG! Also - have you ever seen the title of his book, The Origin of Species? The actual title is: Ther Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection or the Preservation of Favoured RACES  in the Struggle for Life\n  Darwin hated Black people, and any body that wasnt his "race". He ended up marrying his 1st cousin becausehe wanted to make a superior race(every one else is stupid). What ended up happening was all his kids ended dead or seariously retarded. And it was his book that gave the idea to Karl Marx for communism! \n  So there has NEVER been any proof for evolution! Every thing in museums that is based on evolution is  a lie! Why don't you ask about the skull links in the Smithsonian! Nothinbg for evolution has been proven!  It is purely religion!
123622
Various recent Popes have repeatedly stated there there is no discrepency between science and the Roman Catholic faith. \n\nThe creation story in the bible is allegorical, not factual. The bible is not a book of science. \n\nIn fact, there are two creation stories in the bible that disagree with each other in the details. This in itself should tell you something.\n\nEvolution is not "right" or a "fact". Evolution is a theory, and it is just the most currently accepted theory to explain the observations we have. I would expect it would be replaced when a better theory that exlains more of the data supercedes it.
1133442
Actually, Darwin was a religious man who sought to understand the ways in which God did things.  The idea that evolution was created to replace God was not his own.
517551
There does seem to be a disproportionately aggressive response to the suggestion (not to say that the anti-creationism response isn't often pretty harsh).\n\nAs I doubt that many Christians think the Bible is absolute word-for-word truth the whole 'creationism is the only solution' debate seems rather bizarre to me ... who documented it?  Did God leave preliminary sketches?  Religion is the construction of man.\n\nNotwithstanding the above I respect anyone's right to have a belief ... I just don't have to respect your actual belief.  I also do not see that evolution is a threat to religion, assuming you take the view of going with the flow of it rather than the absolute adherence to man-made scripture.\n\nPeace out
937010
Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:17-19)\n\nThe Catholic Church believes the Lord made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, the "rock" of his Church. He gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole flock.\n\nThe current Pope, Benedict XVI, is the senior pastor of 1.1 billion Catholics, the direct successor of Simon Peter.\n\nPope Benedict XVI was born Joseph Ratzinger in 1927. Here is his official Vatican biography: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/biography/documents/hf_ben-xvi_bio_20050419_short-biography_en.html\n\nWith love in Christ.
1158348
Either you believe Gods Word or you dont.  There is no inbetween like believing God allowed evolution.  God said He created everything in six days, do you take it by faith or do you need proof.  Their's the 2 choices.  Its not that difficult.
283170
A god-fearing fundamentalist named Charles Darwin first theorized on evolution. Here's what he wrote (see ref.):\n....During these two years (March 1837 - January 1839) I was led to think much about religion. Whilst on board the Beagle I was quite orthodox, and I remember being heartily laughed at by several officers (though themselves orthodox) for quoting the Bible as an unanswerable authority on some point of morality. I suppose it was the novelty of the argument that amused them. But I had gradually come by this time (i.e. 1836 to 1839) to see the Old Testament, from its manifestly false history of the world, with the Tower of Babel, the rain-bow as a sign, &c., &c., and from its attributing to God the feelings of a revengeful tyrant, was no more to be trusted than....the beliefs of any barbarian....\n  ....Thus disbelief crept over me at a very slow rate, but was at last complete. The rate was so slow that I felt no distress, and have never since doubted for a single second that my conclusion was correct. I can indeed hardly see how anyone ought to wish Christianity to be true; for if so, the plain language of the text seems to show that the men who do not believe, and this would include my Father, Brother, and almost all my best friends, will be everlastingly punished.\n  And this is a damnable doctrine....\n\nSomehow I suspect he was less "ineduacted" than the questioner...
28621
I think that Pope Benedict is in support of this movement in general, though he, like others in the Catholic hierarchy, has some concerns about it. He seems to support the movement, but reminds members to stay connected to the whole Church.  The quotation below is from before he was elected Pope.\n\n\n\n\n \nFor his part, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, has added his voice to the Pope's in acknowledging the good occurring in the Charismatic Renewal and providing some cautions. In a forward to a book by Cardinal Suenens, at that time the Pope's delegate to the Charismatic Renewal, the Prefect comments on the Post-Conciliar period stating,\n\n"At the heart of a world imbued with a rationalistic skepticism, a new experience of the Holy Spirit suddenly burst forth. And, since then, that experience has assumed a breadth of a worldwide Renewal movement. What the New Testament tells us about the charisms - which were seen as visible signs of the coming of the Spirit - is not just ancient history, over and done with, for it is once again becoming extremely topical."\n\nSpeaking of the book's subject, renewal and the powers of darkness, he says,\n\n"What is the relation between personal experience and the common faith of the Church? Both factors are important: a dogmatic faith unsupported by personal experience remains empty; mere personal experience unrelated to the faith of the Church remains blind."\n\nFinally, he urges those who read the book to pay special attention to the author's double plea,\n\n"... to those responsible for the ecclesiastical ministry - from parish priests to bishops - not to let the Renewal pass them by but to welcome it fully; and on the other (hand) ... to the members of the Renewal to cherish and maintain their link with the whole Church and with the charisms of their pastors. "[Renewal and the Powers of Darkness, Leo Cardinal Suenens (Ann Arbor: Servant Books, 1983)]