I was delighted today to learn that the Vatican had strongly re-stated their very sensible line on Evolution, that it is not against the bible and that the creation myth in Genesis should not be interpreted literally. This is very re-assuring to see and is yet another kick in the teeth for Intelligent Design advocates.

The statement was not by the Pope (so I still have nothing good to say about him!) but by Cardinal Paul Poupard, head of the Pontifical Council for Culture. What particularly impressed me was what he had to say about fundamentalists who interpret Genesis as literal truth:

"The fundamentalists want to give a scientific meaning to words that had no scientific aim"

He went on to say that the thing to take from Genesis is not literal truth but that:

"the universe didn’t make itself and had a creator"

I cannot argue with either of those statements, they show both an understanding of what science is and a very sensible and enlightened view of the oldest parts of the Old Testament. As I’ve detailed before, I don’t see how any sane person could consider ID a science but it’s great to see the Vatican agree with me!

Well-done Cardinal Poupard!