The Catholic Church and Evolution

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 32, 16 August 1923, Page 21

The Catholic Church and Evolution

(Lecture by Rev. Father Forrest, M.S.C.) There was a large attendance at the first of the monthly lectures delivered under the auspices of the New South Wales Catholic Federation, at the King’s Hall, Sydney, cm July 26. The opening lecture was delivered by the Rev. Father M. D. Forrest, M.S.C., who in the course of an instructive address dealt with “The Catholic Church and Evolution.” At the close of the lecture, which was presided over by ex-inspector Barry, a vote of thanks, was proposed by Dr. Bede Harrison (president of the Federation), and seconded by Colonel Fallon: In the course of a lengthy dissertation Father Forrest said : Ts the Catholic Church opposed to the theory of evoluon r „ Can Ibe a Catholic and yet an evolutionist? If the Church condemns the theory of evolution, does she not thereby run the risk of one day having to face the wellmerited accusation that her old-fashioned dogmas have been shattered by the discoveries of science, which may vet prove that evolution alone explains the universe? In fact has not the theory of evolution already so far justified itself as to deserve the-support of all scholars, while the oldfashioned Catholic system known as “Permanentism” is deservedly rejected by them and left entirely to those persons who despise the results of scientific research? First of all, I wish to state as emphatically as possible that there is not, nor can there be, any real contradiction between the teachings of Catholic faith and the genuine discoveries of science. “Although faith is above reason » declared the Vatican Council, “still there can never be any real disagreement between faith and reason, since the same God who reveals mysteries and infuses faith has implanted m the human mind the light of reason; God cannot deny Himself, nor can truth ever contradict truth.” Now, I am going to utttr what may seem a bold statement, and this statement is the thesis I undertake to demonstrate to-night. It is this: As regards the question ol evolution, the Catholic faith allows more liberty than is allowed by scientific research. 1. The Various Theories of Evolution. Father Wasmann, S.J., a Catholic evolutionist (this tenn may surprise some non-Catholic scientists), distinguishes between (a) Evolution as a scientific hypothesis—which “seeks to determine the historical succession of the various species of plants and of animals on our earth, and with the aid of palaeontology and other sciences, such as comparative morphology, embryology, and bionomy, to show how in the course of the different geological epochs they gradually evolve from their beginnings by purely natural causes of development,” and (b) evolution as a philosophical speculation, which “considers the entire history of the cosmos as an harmonious development, brought about by natural laws.” Atheistic Evolution. The theory of atheistic or absolute evolution rejects or ignores the existence of a Creator or First Cause, and, therefore, considers matter as eternally and necessarily existing, and gradually producing, by its own natural, inherent power, life and its various degrees, vegetative, animal and rational, with, of course, the various species in the vegetable and animal kingdom. Haeckel is one of the protagonists of this theory. Theistic Evolution. The theory of moderate or theistic evolution admits, as a necessary truth, the existence of God, the Creator of the universe, and holds (1) that vegetative life appeared on the earth either through God’s direct- intervention or, at least, in virtue of certain forces which God implanted in matter; (2) that Divine intervention, direct or indirect, was wise required for the production of animal life, though the various species of plants and animals were not —at least all—directly created by God, but evolved from on© or several organisms; and (3) that direct Divine intervention was necessary for the production of human life. . What Docs the Church Teach? The Church is concerned primarily with revealed truth which has been entrusted by her Divine Founder to her

jealous keeping, and as long as scientists keep to their own sphere— sutor ultra crepidam—she not only does not oppose them, but, on £he contrary, freely encourages them in their researches.

We may sum up the Church's teaching on the origin of the universe and, in particular, of life, in a few statements—(l) God created all things in general—"ln the beginning God created heaven and earth" (Gen. 1,1). "All things were made by Him, and without Him was made nothing that was made" (St. John 1,3). (2) God is the fountain or source of all life, whether He directly created the first living being or produced it indirectly by implanting in matter the power to evolve life. (3) God directlv produced man, at least in the sense that He directly or immediately created the soul of Adam. (4) Though it is contrary to the commonly-received teaching of theologians, the theory that the body of the first man was evolved from the lower animals has never been condemned by any official teaching of the Catholic Church.

Evolution of Species. Great stress -has been laid on the evidence supplied by the fossils of animals that have been discovered in the various geological strata. Many of the fossils discovered represent species of vegetative and animal life that are now extinct, and certainly they show that life existed on this earth far, far back in.-prehistoric times. How old the earth is, at what remote age life first appeared, are questions on which the Church has not pronounced, and will not pronounce (for these questions as such do not affect her doctrines), and which science has so far failed to answer with any approach to exactness. Now, evolutionists argue thus from the fossils discovered: The species that have been discovered arc so ordered that progress in perfection is evident—in tile early strata the plants or animals were less perfect; in the more recent formations they are more perfect. Therefore, evolution of species occurred. As to the facts mentioned \ there is no doubt, but, the conclusion drawn from them by evolutionists is certainly not a necessary inference. Their argument might be summed nip thus: 1 Because we learn from geology that more perfect species "succeeded" less perfect species, therefore, the more perfect were ''evolved" from the less perfect. This reasoning is but another instance of the fallacy so often pointed out by logicians—post hoc ergo, propter horn, (we might say rather" in this case post hoc, ergo ex hoc). George Mendel, Augustinian priest and afterwards Abbot at Brunn, performed certain very interesting experiments. In a word, his experiments show that" new species are not produced, as was claimed, by artificial selection, and that the new variety simply contains elements from the two parent-stocks, both of which, as well as its own type (a hybrid), it reproduces according to definite laws. /.

Summing up the "pros" and "cons" of the case for the evolution of species, Dr. Sheehan writes:—"lt is evident, therefore, that so far science has not been able to tell us by what law, or laws, of nature the process of evolution could have been effected. Until that question is satisfactorily answered, the theory cannot command acceptance.

The defenders of the Darwinian theory of man's descent base their arguments partly on the facts—(l) that there exists a very close resemblance between the formation of a man's body and that of the ape; (2) apes existed before men. Therefore (!), they say. man descended from the ape, or, at least, the ape and man descended from a common., ancestral animal. Certainly the body of man and that of the ape bear close resemblances—but also very wide dissimilarities, even striking essential differences. I might mention—(l) man is essentially a "walker," whereas the ape is necessarily a "climber"; (2) man has only two hands, while the ape—if we wish to use the term hands— four; (3) the ape has a hairy hide; his legs are without calves; when he stands erect his fact naturally looks upwards, not forwards—all of which strikingly differentiate him from man; (4) the ratio of the weight of the brain to that of the entire body is vastly different in man and in the ape; (5) man has the faculty of articulate speech, whereas the ape is completely devoid of such a faculty. '

Besides, there are those other differences—of a higher order—which could not be bridged over by any natural process of evolution. Man thinks, judges, reasons; man ms froe-will; man has a conscience, is religious, makes progress, etc. Evolution of Animal Life. - Regarding the first appearance of animal life, I shall be content with quoting Mr. A. R. Wallace, who was associated with Darwin in the discovery of what is known as the Darwinian theory. Here are his own words: “We feel it to be altogether preposterous to assume that at a certain stage of complexity of atomic constitution, and as a necessary result of that complexity alone, an * ego ’ should start into existence. _ Here we have the certainty that something new has arisen, a being whose nascent consciousness has gone on increasing in power and definiteness till it has culminated in the higher animals. No verbal exp anation for attempt at explanation-such as the statencii t that life is the result of the molecular forces of the protoplasm, or that the whole existing organic universe fiom the amoeba up to man was latent in the fire-mist from ' llch , t ! 5 so . lar svstom " as developedcan afford any mena satisfaction or help us in any way to a solution of the mystery ( Darwinism , p. 69).

Evolution of Plant Life-Spontaneous Generation. Spontaneous generation" may have two quite different meanings The expression may mean the evolution or production of life from inorganic matter by the powers of matter itself; or. it may mean such evolution in virtue of powers imparted to matter by the Creator Spontaneous generation, understood in either sense of he expression is quite unscientific. The experiments of Pasteur have literally shattered the theory oAspontaneous generation. Huxley's testimony will surely satisfy critics of all classes Speaking of the Origin of Species (third lecture) he states that, by the experiments of Pasteur, the roomie of spontaneous generation has been exploded. -And Virchows admission is worthy of note: "Never has a living being, or even a living element-let us say, a living cell-been found of which it could be predicated that it was the first of its species.. Nor have any fossil remains ever been found which, with any likelihood, could have belonged to a being the first of its kind, or could have been produced by spontaneous generation." (Address delivered at Wiesbaden in 1887.)

Conclusion.

I feel that I have but touched the fringe of a vast subject.

Scientific research has not proved the evolution of even a. single species, whereas the Catholic faith allows us to 'go far beyond that in our opinions,if we will 'Tis surely a glorious tribute to the teachings of the Catholic Church that not only is there not the slightest contradiction in all her teachings and practices, but that there is no conflict between her numerous dogmas and the most recent discoveries of science. That in itself is surely a clear proof of the Divine origin of her doctrine and the constant, Divine guidance of her official teachers." Never has there been any real conflict, never will there be any real contradiction, between the doctrines of the Church of Christ and the facts and genuine conclusions of science "'Praise the Lord, all ye nations; praise Him, all ye peoples. For His mercy is confirmed upon us, and the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever." (p s . cxvi.)

Celebrates Jubilee Amongst Lepers Mission life in the Far /East is hard on Westerners under all circumstances, and the reaper, Death, lays low many ardent laborers before they have gathered the fruit of their toil; but, a life given to caring for lepers would seem likely to pay the heaviest 101 l in health and vigor. It was, therefor art unusual occasion for joy and congratulation when, on June 6, 1923, the Rev. Drouart de Lezey, director of the Leper Hospital in Gotemba, Japan, celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination to the* priesthood. He observed his golden jubilee among his devoted afflicted ones whose prayers and gratitude and love made the day most happy.