To better evaluate the Vatican’s current position on evolutionism, it is necessary to know of its Project STOQ (Science, Technology, and the Ontological Quest). The Project’s publicly stated purpose is to work toward a new philosophical basis by which the integration of science and re-ligion can be traditionally understood. Apparently they deem this an urgent necessity since they claim that “there is a lack of a solid tradition of affronting [facing] issues in this way, [i.e., through an integrated view of science and religion].”1

The Project’s current plan of action includes exchanging ideas with major worldwide groups in the areas of what is called “science” and religion.2 Thus, under the auspices of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Project STOQ co-sponsored an international conference to mark the 150th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species. It held the five-day confer-ence from March 3-7, 2009, at Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University. The title for the confer-ence was “Biological Evolution: Facts and Theories: A Critical Appraisal 150 Years after The Origin of Species.” The purpose of the conference was stated straightforwardly. It was to focus “on the possibility to reconcile in the same philosophical position the ‘Creation’ thinking and the ‘Evolution’ thinking, without the first pretending to be a scientific theory nor the second be-ing reduced to a dogma.”3

According to the London Times, “Msgr. Gianfranco Ravasi, head of the Pontifical Coun-cil for Culture, which co-organized the conference with Notre Dame University in Indiana and support from the John Templeton Foundation, said there was ‘no a priori incompatibility be-tween evolution and the message of the Bible.’”4 The head of the Pontifical Council for Culture could take this position because the primary authority for all Catholics is the dogmas taught by the reigning Pope.5

The Times further noted that, “The Vatican has rejected the claim by Richard Dawkins, the biologist and campaigning atheist, that evolution proves that God does not exist, proclaiming that on the contrary Darwinian evolution and the account of Creation in Genesis are ‘perfectly compatible.’” It is no surprise then that the Vatican conference firmly rejected any presentation.

1 http://www.stoqproject.it/index.htm 4/7/2009 Until recently the Roman Catholic Church has addressed scientific issues only by means of their traditional dogmas and for centuries resisted any change that important scientific dis-coveries brought to the fore. For instance Galileo was declared an heretic by them until only very recently. The recovery of the absolute authority of Scripture and the Gospel during the Reformation of the sixteenth century would have given the Vatican the basis by which to deal effectively with important discoveries that modern science has made, had they accepted the biblical base.

2 STOQ “was originated in January, 2000 following the Jubilee for Scientists in which representatives from major worldwide groups met to take up the dialogue between science and religion.”
http://www.evolution-rome2009.net/index.php?view=article&id=48%3Ahome&tmpl=comp…4/7/2009

4 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith.article 5859797.ece 4/7/2009

5 The Roman Catholic Church has as its authority both “Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture” (Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994) Para. 80, 82). When there is a discrepancy between the Scripture and their tradition, the reigning pope makes the judgment as to what Catholics shall believe regarding any subject because it is claimed that he is infallible. “The Supreme Pontiff, in virtue of his office, possesses infallible teaching authority when, as supreme pastor...he proclaims with a definitive act that a doctrine of faith or morals is to be held as such.” Cate-chism, Para 891. Emphasis not in original.