Catholic Church backsteps on evolution

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Cecelia5578
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Catholic Church backsteps on evolution

Post by Cecelia5578 »

BLINDED BY SCIENCE....Just in case you chose today to feel a wee bit of optimism in an otherwise gloomy world, the Guardian sends along the following bracing news:

Philosophers, scientists and other intellectuals close to Pope Benedict will gather at his summer palace outside Rome this week for intensive discussions that could herald a fundamental shift in the Vatican's view of evolution.

There have been growing signs the Pope is considering aligning his church more closely with the theory of "intelligent design" taught in some US states. Advocates of the theory argue that some features of the universe and nature are so complex that they must have been designed by a higher intelligence. Critics say it is a disguise for creationism.

A prominent anti-evolutionist and Roman Catholic scientist, Dominique Tassot, told the US National Catholic Reporter that this week's meeting was "to give a broader extension to the debate. Even if [the Pope] knows where he wants to go, and I believe he does, it will take time. Most Catholic intellectuals today are convinced that evolution is obviously true because most scientists say so."

Sigh. One step forward, two steps back.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archiv ... 009412.php

At least in the good old days (of John Paul II!) one could use Rome as a useful hammering tool of Christians who believe in evolution against fundy Protestants.
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Post by General Zod »

Nothing really new. You've had several bishops and archbishops stepping up in favor of evolution and making obvious distinctions between faith and science for awhile now. This is just taking it to a somewhat higher level.
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Post by Shroom Man 777 »

B-b-but Pope John Paul 2 was a Pope! He was infallable! If the new infallable Pope circumvents him...then...then...what does that mean?! Oh god!
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Post by nickolay1 »

Shroom Man 777 wrote:If the new infallable Pope circumvents him...then...then...what does that mean?! Oh god!
This could finally be the appropriate religious answer to the question of the cause of the Big Bang! Looks like God will have to start over yet again... :(
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Post by Sriad »

Shroom Man 777 wrote:B-b-but Pope John Paul 2 was a Pope! He was infallable! If the new infallable Pope circumvents him...then...then...what does that mean?! Oh god!
Don't worry Shroom, it just means that was true THEN, and this is true NOW. If comic books can do retcons, then so can Almighty God. :wink:
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Post by Vaporous »

Shroom Man 777 wrote:B-b-but Pope John Paul 2 was a Pope! He was infallable! If the new infallable Pope circumvents him...then...then...what does that mean?! Oh god!
It's my understanding that the Pope is only infallable on occasion.


Please continue your regularly scheduled meltdown.
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Post by Keevan_Colton »

Vaporous wrote:
Shroom Man 777 wrote:B-b-but Pope John Paul 2 was a Pope! He was infallable! If the new infallable Pope circumvents him...then...then...what does that mean?! Oh god!
It's my understanding that the Pope is only infallable on occasion.


Please continue your regularly scheduled meltdown.
As I recall he's got to be wearing the special hat. ;)
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Post by Surlethe »

I would like to optimistically point out that a policy reversal is a possibility going into the meetings, not a guarantee, so the thread title is rather misleading. Myself, I'm hoping that the church reaffirms theistic evolution.
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Post by Darth Raptor »

I'm hoping that the world stops giving a fuck about what the RCC has to say.
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Post by mr friendly guy »

Darth Raptor wrote:I'm hoping that the world stops giving a fuck about what the RCC has to say.
That won't happen until the RCC's numbers dwindle significantly.
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Post by Lisa »

Going to a Catholic school we learned evolution, how ever it was God's will that we have evolved the way we have. Which brings up free will, if everything is by God's design where's free will?
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Post by Mr Bean »

Keevan_Colton wrote:
Vaporous wrote:
Shroom Man 777 wrote:B-b-but Pope John Paul 2 was a Pope! He was infallable! If the new infallable Pope circumvents him...then...then...what does that mean?! Oh god!
It's my understanding that the Pope is only infallable on occasion.


Please continue your regularly scheduled meltdown.
As I recall he's got to be wearing the special hat. ;)
(Say all of the following to yourself in dark ominus movie preview tones)
That's correct, according to church canon, he's only infallable While he's wearing his pope hat.
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Pray that hat never falls into the wrong hands....

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Post by Ender »

Shroom Man 777 wrote:B-b-but Pope John Paul 2 was a Pope! He was infallable! If the new infallable Pope circumvents him...then...then...what does that mean?! Oh god!
Papal infallibility only applies with regards to church dogma. Evolution falls outside that, so he can be as right or wrong as anyone else.
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Post by zippy »

The Catholic Church totally lost it when they elected Uncle Fester as Pope. This is just the latest fuckup in a long line of fuckups, and I expect it to get worse.
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Post by DrMckay »

What, as in Alanis Morisette begins creating new commandments? (Dogma)
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