One Roman Catholic Layman's Research on Evolutionism

In the beginning
GOD
created heaven and earth
Genesis 1:1
A project of:
Catholic Apostolate for Creation
P.O. Box 997
Jordan, NY 13080

A BRIEF HISTORY

     Shortly after the judicial decision against the teaching of Biblical Creation in the public school system in Arkansas, a reporter from the Syracuse Newspapers approached Dr. Richard M. Lawless, Vicar for Education for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse. Dr. Lawless was asked if he were upset by the decision handed down January 5, 1982, by Judge William R. Overton in McLean versus the Arkansas Board of Education.* His response was that, in fact, he supported the decision.
     At Lawless' request, a 6-page resource paper was prepared by William R. Barnett, Ph.D., Charles J. Kelly, Ph.D., and Rev. Andrew L. Szebanyi, S.J., Ph.D., associate professors of Religious Studies, Philosophy and Biology respectively at Jesuit-run LeMoyne College in Syracuse. The paper is critical of Biblical Creation and supportive of evolutionism. To that paper, Dr. Lawless added a 4-page cover letter/summary, entitled it "Catholics and Creationism," and issued it to all clergy and teachers in the Diocese of Syracuse in November 1982.**
     The diocesan paper is fraught with errors, both scientific and religious. While reading the paper, the decision was made to begin a life dedicated to the exposition of evolutionism as a satanically-inspired, false, atheistic religious belief system having no scientific merit. Research, writing and speaking provides the means by which the call has been and continues to be answered. Given present circumstances, my creationist activities must, of necessity, be avocational.
     The name change to Catholic Apostolate for Creation was recognized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service on December 1, 1993. Originally founded as Catholic Creation Ministries, registration was officially granted December 13, 1983.

The basis of this apostolate is fervent prayer.

Jesus told His disciples:

...all things whatsoever you shall ask in prayer,
believing, you shall receive (St. Matthew 21:22)

...without me you can do nothing. (St. John 15:5)

[Douay-Rheims Translation. 1882. Philadelphia:
The National Publishing Company]                 

  *The full text of Judge Overton's decision, injunction and opinion was published in SCIENCE, 19 February 1982, pp. 934-943.

  **A copy of the complete document is available, free of charge. Simply provide your mailing address.




STATEMENT OF FAITH

     The following papal teachings form the basis upon which this apostolate was founded. They constitute part of the consistent teaching of the Roman Catholic Church since Her founding by the Lord Jesus Christ, reiterated in our own time by Her divinely appointed Teaching Magisterium.

Pope Leo XIII:

     The books of the Old and New Testament, whole and entire, with all
their parts, as enumerated in the decree of the same Council (Trent) and
in the ancient Latin Vulgate, are to received as sacred and canonical.
And the Church holds them as sacred and canonical not because having
been composed by human industry, they were afterwards approved by Her
authority; nor only because they contain revelation without errors, but
because having been written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they
have God for their Author. [1893. PROVIDENTISSIMUS DEUS: Encyclical
on the study of Sacred Scripture (IID3a). Boston: Daughters of St. Paul]

Pope St. Pius X:

     The following propositions of the Modernists have been condemned
and proscribed:

     They display excessive simplicity or ignorance who believe that God
is really the Author of the Sacred Scriptures.
     Divine inspiration does not extend to all of Sacred Scripture so that
it renders its parts, each and every one, free from every error.
     If he wishes to apply himself usefully to Biblical studies, the exegete
must first put aside all preconceived opinions about the supernatural
origin of Sacred Scripture and interpret it the same as any other merely
human document. [1907. LAMENTABILI SANE: Syllabus condemning
the errors of the modernists (9, 11,12). boston: Daughters of St. Paul]

Pope Benedict XV:

     ...[W]hen Christ preached to the people...He took His points and His
arguments from the Bible. From the same source came His weapons when
disputing with the scribes and pharisees. Whether teaching or disputing,
He quotes from all parts of Scripture and takes His example from it; He
quotes it as an argument which must be accepted. He refers without any
discrimination of sources to the stories of Jonas and the Ninivites, of the
Queen of Sheba and Solomon, of Elias and Eliseus of David and Noe, of Lot
and the Sodomites, and even of Lot's wife. How solemn His witness to the
truth of the sacred books. [1920. SPIRITUS PARACLITUS: Encyclical on the
Fifteenth Centenary of the Death of St. Jerome (III5).
Boston: Daughters of St. Paul].

Sincerely yours in Christ and His beleagured Church,
Bill Crofut, Founder