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This was turning into an interesting thread, so to keep it going I'm interested in knowing, if Catholics may believe in the theory of evolution, what exactly may they believe ? Obviously one cannot believe that man evolved from something other than man, because that would be a definite denial of the clear word of God. So does it imply that we're free to believe in the evolution of all other creatures except for man ?

Interesting.

I wonder how Christ can be the second Adam if there was no first Adam.

Interesting that you would mention this, Lawrence.

Teilhard de Chardin did think that man continues to evolve.

However, if an ape did evolve into a human as some believe, then why don't apes continue to evolve in this present age, and why don't humans evolve into a holy lineage or devolve into a lower form that is physically stronger but spiritually weak. Could it be that the super rich controlling families, who have no morals, are part of that downward evolutionary spiral that we just do not notice yet?

p.s. I do not believe in evolution, but I do notice that recently my international ESL students have been displaying more reprobate behaviors as they try to emulate the American wealthy and Jet Set generation. This greatly disturbs me.

For Catholics it is an open question but with some limitations.
Personally myself, it depends what you mean by "evolve".
If by that you mean continue to develope within the species, for example, get taller, larger, etc. then yes.
But if you mean we developed from another species and are just like all the others of the animal kingom, then definitely not.
I do not believe in the theory of polygenism, in no way. I believe God created two historic individuals who were our proto parents from whom all of humanity have descended.

I believe that God is the immediate creator of man and that God continues to uphold and guide creation.I do not believe that we just came into existence by chance.
Stephanos I

I have to admit that I don't agree with this comment. A good book to read is Francis Collins', "The Language of God - A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief". Collins was head of the Human Genome Project.

I find no conflict between faith (the three different accounts of creation presented in Genesis), and reason (science). How can faith and reason be in conflict, they are both gifts to us from Christ. If there is an apparent conflict I suggest that it is due to our limited undertanding, not due to a real conflict. Humility is always a virtue.

hmmmm, I wonder. Of course it is a myth, all three accounts of creation (re-creation) are a myth. (Myth is a good word not a bad one. Myth is not the same as fiction, e.g. Santa Claus is fiction, not myth.) But back to the homily , as I read this I am reminded of a related question, 'who is responsible for the death of Jesus, who crucified Him?' I recall the answer that St Francis of Assisi gives to this question: "We must regard as guilty all those who continue to relapse into their sins. Since our sins made the Lord Christ suffer the torment of the cross, those who plunge themselves into disorders and crimes crucify the Son of God anew in their hearts (for he is in them) and hold him up to contempt. And it can be seen that our crime in this case is greater in us than in the Jews. As for them, according to the witness of the Apostle, "None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." We, however, profess to know him. And when we deny him by our deeds, we in some way seem to lay violent hands on him. Nor did demons crucify him; it is you who have crucified him and crucify him still, when you delight in your vices and sins."

So you are implying that the account in Genesis of the fall of man is also a myth ?

Did you know that the only Catholic church in the world named "Adam and Eve's" is in Dublin, Ireland?

Fr. Serge

Their are two conflicting views of God.
One deistic - God indeed created but then retreated and left everything on its on to develope. God is totally transcendant.

Then there is the theistic view of God. God is the source and center of all creation, He upholds its very being, he is active in every atom, proton and neutron, guiding it to its final end.
Stephanos I

WOW !!
Now that is one of those odd bits of information to store away in the depths of one's mind

So come for Holy Week and see it for yourself! It's served by the Franciscans. When the Pope visited Ireland, even he was shocked to find a large church with that name.

Fr. Serge

not this year I fear - dunno what I will be likely doing for either OC or NC Holy Week
day to day living is quite enough to be coping with at present

I think this is an excellent response to the evolutionist community http://www.sspx.org/against_the_sound_bites/devolution_of_evolution.htm

the Scripture says that by one man sin came into the world, and by one Man (Jesus Christ)came our salvation. if Adam and Eve is a myth, so is Jesus Christ and our salvation. one problem with evolution is that it has led to racist thinking. one can say that one people group is more human than an other, thus the not so human group is subject to being treated less than human. years ago, the National States Rights party ( now dead) came up wit the theory that Black people were 400,000 years behind White people on the evolutionary scale (how convenient, you can treat Blacks like animals and get away with it). so, are there people groups now that you don't consider as human as yourself?
back to Adam and Eve: I take the account literally, and Scripture, which is infallible and inerrant in all that it teaches, trumps the blathering of any "Priest" any day. I'm not the least bit surprised that it was a Latin priest who barfed forth his garabage. since the end of Vatican 11, the Latins have been plagued with drivel that is nothing but a mish mosh of Liberalism, Marxism, and New Age. thank GOD I'm an Eastern!
Much Love,
Jonn

Another good book to read concerning Darwin's naturalism and the theory of evolution is found at Amazon.com

Weikart, Richard. (2004). From Darwin to Hitler: Evolutionary Ethics, Eugenics, and Racism in Germany. Palgrave Macmillan

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1403965021/orthodoxchris-20

This excellent book is reviewed by Father Johannes L. Jacobse at

http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles5/JacobseDarHitlerEssay.php