It's highly relevant to some recent discussions here, since Ruse has noticed what I noticed about the Pope's recent statement. Sadly those discussions are, I find, now all closed. So to make sure this is on record, I post it here anew.
Michael Ruse: Evolution and Catholic Theology
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-ruse/why-doesnt-the-pope-get-i_b_859123.html
as things stand at the moment, there is a flat-out contradiction between the claims of modern biological science and the theology of the Roman Catholic Church. And the fact is that the Pope, for all of his vaulted theological expertise, is either ignoring this fact or is glossing over it, probably because he has made the decision that, when push comes to shove, theology trumps science.
Ruse notes that the Pope needs humans not to be a product of chance. Therefore there needs to be an element of direction in evolution. But evolution allows for no direction and no design. The Pope says that "theology trumps science". Ruse says that the theology needs more work (he doesn't accept that any attempt to show that humans were a necessary product of evolution could be successful). He even has a helpful suggestion:
I have suggested that, since we have appeared, we could appear. Hence, God (being outside time and space) could simply go on creating universes until humans did appear. A bit of a waste admittedly but we have that already in our universe.
some solution needs to be found. At least, some solution needs to be found by Christians. Otherwise, the New Atheists are right, and science and religion cannot be reconciled. Hence, you must take your choice, and since science is right the appropriate conclusion follows at once.
Dan