Cardinal Schoenborn Clarifies
No he’s not a utility infielder for St. Louis. Schoenborn is a Roman Catholic Cardinal from Vienna. Schoenborn caused a stir last July with statements that were interpreted as supporting the Intelligent Design movement in the US and perhaps, since Schoenborn is a close associate of Pope Benedict, a retreat by the Catholic Church from its acceptance of evolution.
Reuters has now reported that Schoenborn has made some clarifying statements which appear to deny that interpretation. Unfortunately Reuters chose to title its article “Cardinal backs evolution and ‘intelligent design.’’ This is another example of journalistic obfuscation. Schoenborn, in the statements reported such as “I see no problem combining belief in the creator with the theory of evolution, under one condition – that the limits of a scientific theory are respected” is clearly taking a theistic evolutionary position.
Statements to the effect that science must not move beyond its sphere and declare the non-existence of a creator or a total lack of divine design, perhaps in helping genetic modifications occur, is by no stretch of the imagination support for “Intelligent Design” which rejects evolution.
Such a statement is simply an accurate recognition that as religion shouldn’t trespass in science’s sphere, science must also respect religion’s sphere. I don’t see a problem with that statement. One can recognize that science, and in particular evolution, is evidence for the non-existence of God without accepting that evidence as definitive or even particularly persuasive. The problem with the average creationist is that he must have certainty. Science introduces uncertainty. This is why most creationists fear science.
Sounds to me like the Cardinal got torn a new one over his July comments and had to come up with a rationalization or perhaps he really was misunderstood. It really doesn't matter all that much; what is important is that the Catholic Church appears to still be willing to accept the basics of evolution.
I find it incredible that Catholicism, hardly a hotbed of radical progressive thought, can make its peace with Darwin but the most technologically advanced country in the world, the country that owes the most to science, can't.
Reuters has now reported that Schoenborn has made some clarifying statements which appear to deny that interpretation. Unfortunately Reuters chose to title its article “Cardinal backs evolution and ‘intelligent design.’’ This is another example of journalistic obfuscation. Schoenborn, in the statements reported such as “I see no problem combining belief in the creator with the theory of evolution, under one condition – that the limits of a scientific theory are respected” is clearly taking a theistic evolutionary position.
Statements to the effect that science must not move beyond its sphere and declare the non-existence of a creator or a total lack of divine design, perhaps in helping genetic modifications occur, is by no stretch of the imagination support for “Intelligent Design” which rejects evolution.
Such a statement is simply an accurate recognition that as religion shouldn’t trespass in science’s sphere, science must also respect religion’s sphere. I don’t see a problem with that statement. One can recognize that science, and in particular evolution, is evidence for the non-existence of God without accepting that evidence as definitive or even particularly persuasive. The problem with the average creationist is that he must have certainty. Science introduces uncertainty. This is why most creationists fear science.
Sounds to me like the Cardinal got torn a new one over his July comments and had to come up with a rationalization or perhaps he really was misunderstood. It really doesn't matter all that much; what is important is that the Catholic Church appears to still be willing to accept the basics of evolution.
I find it incredible that Catholicism, hardly a hotbed of radical progressive thought, can make its peace with Darwin but the most technologically advanced country in the world, the country that owes the most to science, can't.
posted by Alencon at 4:02 PM
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