Darwin Conference Does Not Speak for Vatican, Says Intelligent Design Proponent
Darwin Conference Does Not Speak for Vatican, Says Intelligent Design Proponent
A leading intelligent design proponent said Friday that views expressed this week at a Darwin conference in Rome should not be confused with the Vatican’s position on intelligent design and Darwinism.
Organizers of the March 3-7 conference, “Biological Evolution: Facts and Theories,” at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome had declined to invite intelligent design speakers because they felt the theory lacked scientific merit.
Bruce Chapman, president of the Seattle-based Discovery Institute, an intelligent design think tank, said he believes the Pope remains in serious “fruitful dialogue” with intelligent design even though speakers of the conference, sponsored by a Catholic Church-related agency, may be critical of the theory.
“The views of the Pope and views of people holding the conference are not the same,” Chapman told The Christian Post on Friday. “A large purpose of this conference was to criticize and trash intelligent design and try to make it seem like it’s the Vatican’s [point of view]. They are intentionally trying to confuse people.”
He added, “Not only is the Papal household keeping its distance from this conference, the Pope has said some things friendly to intelligent design and critical of Darwinism.”