In modern circles, it is common to hear Catholics talking about the theory of evolution, and some even suggesting that recent popes have approved the theory of evolution as a scientific fact that agrees with Catholic teaching.
This is absolutely false.
“[The] fictitious tenets of evolution which repudiate all that is absolute, firm and immutable, have paved the way for the new erroneous philosophy, has assumed the name of existentialism, since it concerns itself only with existence of individual things and neglects all consideration of their immutable essences.”
Now, most modern Catholics, who have never studied Aristotelean reasoning or philosophy will not even know what Pope Pius XII was talking about here because the effects of the theory of evolution have already removed the study of the “immutable essences” of individual things from modern schools.
Instead of learning classical philosophy, Catholic students are learning the ideas that Pope Pius XII said should NOT be taught in schools.
“We charge the Bishops and the Superiors General of Religious Orders, binding them most seriously in conscience, to take most diligent care that such opinions be not advanced in schools, in conferences or in writings of any kind, and that they be not taught in any manner whatsoever to the clergy or the faithful.”
These quotes are taken from Pope Pius XII’s encyclical “Humani Generis”, which was published in 1950.
