This is a copy of a letter published in Mass of Ages November 2009.
Critics of the evolutionary theory (ET) are struggling against windmills. ET is a specific biological theory based on a precise mechanism, natural selection. When understood in its duly limited scientific context, it has nothing to do with the spiritual, does not translate to the evolution of the Universe, evolutionism in philosophy or theology. ET is not intrinsically atheistic either.
ET does not contradict the Genesis and the Catholic doctrine. The Church has never condemned or even questioned scientific ET. “Evolution is scientifically proven to be impossible and continues to lose credibility on scientific grounds.” Wrong, ET has huge support in genetics, ecology, paleonthology, mathematics etc. “Alternatives like the Creation science or Intelligent Design are not religiously affiliated, and provide arguments against the ET.” Wrong, these so-called “theories” are the invention of protestant fundamentalists. They lack credibility and are not even considered seriously by most biologists. ET “has brought us the mass murder of the unborn,” evolutionism in theology etc. Wrong emotional argument, should we then question the scientific validity of modern physics because of Hiroshima?
ET is not incompatible with the Magisterium, but it is incompatible with the false theology of fundamentalist protestants: impossibility of any creative activity of the matter, synergism between the Creator and the created (hence total depravity as a result of the fall, sola fide salvation, predestination), sola scriptura and literate interpretation etc. Do not allow these false doctrines to creep into the Catholic teaching.