Evolutionary science has been a controversial topic in the United States the past hundred, 150 years, said Philip Rolnick, theology professor at the University of St. Thomas, director of its Science and Theology Network and adjunct professor at the St. Paul Seminary, all in St. Paul.  

For example, he said, as one person described, “nobody argues, thinks that gravity is bad or dangerous, but some people think that evolution is. So, when you get a great thinker like Benedict XVI, who’s able to show you how to combine the Bible and the theory of evolution and traditional Christian theology, something very good is underway,” he said.  

The person who has “done that so well” and shown how the late Pope Benedict has done that so well is Matthew Ramage, professor of theology and co-director of the Center for Integral Ecology at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, Rolnick said. So, he invited Ramage to present a talk at St. Thomas March 1 on “Pope Benedict XVI, the Bible and the theory of evolution.” 

Ahead of the talk, Ramage and Rolnick joined “Practicing Catholic” radio show host Patrick Conley to discuss how the late pontiff viewed faith and science, with particular attention to the Church’s views on evolution. 

Ramage said his talk will be “a meditation on Benedict and how he brings together Bible doctrine and the science of evolution to reveal the glory of God.” His remarks will cover several angles, he said, including one “towards evangelization.” 

Ramage referenced an ad he heard before the show began that mentioned how “the greatest act of love toward others,” or one thing people can do to show love “is to let them know Christ.”  

“This is one of those areas where,” Ramage said, “the secular world kind of says it’s against faith, and how it disproves God, and how some Catholics have that impression, you see Pope Benedict, Pope John Paul and the great wisdom of bringing these two together. 

“So … the talk is about that and any number of related issues that arise at the intersection of faith and science,” Ramage said. 

Ramage will deliver his remarks 7-8:30 p.m. March 1 at the John Roach Center Auditorium on the University of St. Paul campus in St. Paul. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is appreciated but not required. To learn more, visit tinyurl.com/2xrnzc7n. 

To hear the full interview, listen to this episode of “Practicing Catholic,” which debuts at 9 p.m. Feb. 10 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM and repeats at 1 p.m. Feb. 11 and 2 p.m. Feb. 12.  

Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes an interview with Maggee Hangge, policy and public relations associate at the Minnesota Catholic Conference, who describes a pro-life advocacy day at the state Capitol Feb. 28; and an interview with Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Williams, who reflects on his first year of episcopal ministry. 

Listen to interviews after they have aired at PracticingCatholicShow.com or choose a streaming platform at anchor.fm/practicing-catholic-show.