Some might ask why we need bother with the Origins debate and it is true that for most teachers the question of how we came into being is largely irrelevant as regards the vast majority of content that is taught in school. However, especially for teachers in Catholic and other Christian Schools such a topic is of vital importance, especially in these days of widespread dissent and misinformation.

The work of people like Wallace Johnson (RIP), and Gerry Keane (author of Creation Rediscovered published by TAN), and Fr James Tierney (The Catholic Family Catechism), is invaluable in helping us see how erroneous it is to teach evolution as fact. Their work, and the work of the growing body of other scientists who are now questioning the validity of evolution, shows very clearly that even theistic evolution is now an untenable position in spite of the fact that many Catholics still hold this view.

Is Theistic Evolution worthy of belief?

Theistic evolution poses serious problems as regards the fact that we are biologically, historically and theologically descended from one pair and that this pair committed the original sin when tempted by Satan. Some theistic evolutionists posit polygenism (lots of hairy first men and women) but Pius XII could not see how this end-point of evolution can be reconciled with what Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium of the Church have always taught concerning the origin of the human race.

The teaching of the Catholic Church on evolution was given clearly by pope Plus XI1 in his encyclical letter Humani Generis in 1950:

• Souls don't evolve. Each is a direct creation of God.
• All human beings now on Earth have Adam for their ancestor. Because of descent from Adam, we are born with original sin.
• The possibility of the evolution of the human body from other living materials is not a closed question. A Catholic could hold it, but he must also hold the two points above. Such evolution has not been proven, should not be taught as fact, and points for and against should be given.

Since Humani Generis the Second Vatican Council referred to the historic fact of Adam and of original sin:

• In 1964 Constitution of the Church sections 2 and 56;
• In 1965 On the Church in the Modern World sections 13, 18 and 22;
• In 1968, Pope Paul VI in his Credo of the People of God reaffirmed this teaching on Adam and original sin;
• In 1986 the teaching of Pius XII was reaffirmed by Pope John Paul II when he said in L 'Osservcttore Romano, 21st April , "The reply of the Magisterium was offered in Humani Generis of Pius XII in 1950"

In 1992 the Catechism of the Catholic Church reaffirmed the constant teaching of the Church as regards the common origin of the human race in Adam (sections 360, 375) and the fall of our first parents (section 390).The Catechism of 1992 did not include the word 'evolution'.

Information provided by: http://www.catholic-forum.com