Theistic Evolution is Incompatible with Traditional Catholic Doctrine of Creation

Hugh Owen | The Daily Knight

Dear Friends of the Kolbe Center, Glory to Jesus Christ! I want to thank all of you once again who watched and prayed for Dr. Kevin Mark in his recent debate with Dr. Douglas Darnowski on the Crisis Magazine podcast. The outpouring of congratulations we have received for Dr. Mark testify to the effect of your prayers and to the splendid defense that he offered for the traditional Catholic doctrine of creation. In this newsletter, I would like to offer a few reflections on some of the topics raised during the debate since it was impossible for Dr. Kevin to respond to every point that was raised in the time available to him. Dr. Darnowski dismissed the Paluxy evidence for dinosaur and human co-existence, clearly without having examined the evidence for himself. He suggested that the tracks were carved, but that claim has been thoroughly debunked, as explained by Ademar Rakowsky in the article at this link. The best proof that the tracks were not carved is the C-scan that was done of the Delk print which proves that the tracks were made naturally and were not carved. The material beneath the tracks was shown to be compressed--which would not have been the case if the tracks had been carved.

CT-Scan of Alvis Delk Print

An objection was raised to the literal historical interpretation of Genesis One on the grounds that the text states that the sun was not created until the fourth day of the Hexameron, rendering it impossible to have 24-hour days without the sun. The Fathers, like St. John Chrysostom, taught that God revealed that He created the sun on the fourth day so that those who remembered the revelation that was handed down from St. Adam would always know that the Sun is not the source of life.

All Catholics used to be taught this. For example, the Little Flower, St. Therese of Lisieux, the one that St. Pius X called "the greatest saint of modern times," in her catechism was taught the following Q and A:

Q. Why were the sun, moon and stars not created until the fourth day? A. They were not created until the fourth day, in order to teach man that they are not the authors of the productions of the earth. God wished thereby to prevent idolatry. Q. What further do you remark with respect to the sun? A. I remark that the sun rises and sets every day, runs his course with great velocity, illumines and vivifies all nature. It is in this an image of Christ, who, having gone forth from the bosom of His Father, returned to heaven, after having enlightened all men by His doctrine, and sanctified them by His merits and example.