Pope Benedict admits evidence for evolution

POPE Benedict has said there is substantial scientific proof of the theory of evolution.

The Pope, speaking as he was concluding his holiday in northern Italy, also said the human race must listen to "the voice of the Earth" or risk destroying its very existence.

In a talk with 400 priests, the Pope spoke of the current debate raging in some countries, particularly the US and his native Germany, between creationism and evolution. 

“They are presented as alternatives that exclude each other,” the Pope said.

“This clash is an absurdity because on one hand there is much scientific proof in favour of evolution, which appears as a reality that we must see and which enriches our understanding of life and being as such.”

But he said evolution did not answer all the questions and could not exclude a role by God.

“Above all it does not answer the great philosophical question 'where does everything come from?'“

His comments appear to be an endorsement of the doctrine of intelligent design.

Climate change

Benedict is wrapping up a three-week private holiday in the majestic mountains of northern Italy where residents are alarmed by the prospect of climate change that can alter their way of life.

God's gift ... Pope Benedict has been given reason enough lately to believe in the theory of evolution / Reuters / Reuters

A full transcript of the two-hour event was issued yesterday.

“We all see that today man can destroy the foundation of his existence, his Earth,” he said.

“We cannot simply do what we want with this Earth of ours, with what has been entrusted to us,” said the Pope, who has been spending his time reading and walking in the scenic landscape bordering Austria.

World religions have shown a growing interest in the environment, particularly the ramifications of climate change.

The Pope, leader of some 1.1 billion Roman Catholics worldwide, said: “We must respect the interior laws of creation, of this Earth, to learn these laws and obey them if we want to survive.”

“This obedience to the voice of the Earth is more important for our future happiness ... than the desires of the moment.

"Our Earth is talking to us and we must listen to it and decipher its message if we want to survive,” he said.

Last April the Vatican sponsored a scientific conference on climate change to underscore the role that religious leaders around the world could play in reminding people that wilfully damaging the environment is sinful.

Pope Benedict has a bob each way

By Lincoln Archer
Thursday, July 26, 2007 at 08:22am

Pope Benedict XVI has admitted what most people have accepted for a long, long time: that there is plenty of proof around to back up the theory of evolution.  On the one hand this seems perfectly sensible - who in their right mind would continue to argue that the earth is only a few thousand years old (*cough* Bush! *cough*)? 

On the other hand, he also adds that this does not exclude a role for God somewhere in the mix.  Again, most people would think that is fair enough too, wouldn’t they?  No matter how far back you go to explain the universe with empirical fact, someone else can always go one step further back and ask: “Yeah, but what was there before that?”

But the problem with the Pope’s frank admission - behind closed doors to 400 priests on holiday in Italy - is this: if he opens the door to accepting a little bit of evolution, why not open the door to accepting a little bit of other teaching that contradicts long-held dogma?  If evolution does not contradict Genesis, why not soften the stance on homosexuality, contraception, etc?

One of the arguments against it has always been that some things are absolute - but it would appear the Pope backs relativism on this one.  Which means he should back it on everything else as well.

Can the Pope have his cake and edict too?

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