[StJacques]

"it appears (and I haven't read the whole text) as though this isn't an endorsement of evolution but rather an allowance for the same."

I meant to post a response to this before I did my last post because, you are exactly correct. The Catholic Church will not endorse any scientific theory because all such scientific theories are materialistic by definition and therefore outside of the Church's purview.

[donh]

The Catholic Church will not endorse any scientific theory because all such scientific theories are materialistic by definition and therefore outside of the Church's purview.

Huh. So what did the Church imprison Galileo for, pray tell? Spitting on the sidewalk?

[donh]

The Catholic Church will not endorse any scientific theory

Well, now, that sort of depends on what "endorse" means. In the sense that the catholic church "endorses" the virgin birth, or the 10 commandments, or the principal of salvation thru Christ, I don't believe the National Science Council "endorses" any scientific theory either.