For these reasons the Teaching Authority of the Church does not forbid that, in conformity with the present state of human sciences and sacred theology, research and discussions, on the part of men experienced in both fields, take place with regard to the doctrine of evolution, in as far as it inquires into the origin of the human body as coming from pre-existent and living matter - for the Catholic faith obliges us to hold that souls are immediately created by God. However, this must be done in such a way that the reasons for both opinions, that is, those favorable and those unfavorable to evolution, be weighed and judged with the necessary seriousness, moderation and measure, and provided that all are prepared to submit to the judgment of the Church, to whom Christ has given the mission of interpreting authentically the Sacred Scriptures and of defending the dogmas of faith.

The above was written in 1950. In 1951 the same pope, as I pointed out before, was uttering  to the PAS for all to hear:

‘44. It is undeniable that when a mind enlightened and enriched with modern scientific knowledge weighs this problem calmly, it feels drawn to break through the circle of completely independent or autochthonous matter, whether uncreated or self-created, and to ascend to a creating Spirit. With the same clear and critical look with which it examines and passes judgment on facts, it perceives and recognizes the work of creative omnipotence, whose power, set in motion by the mighty “Fiat” pronounced billions of years ago by the Creating Spirit, spread out over the universe, calling into existence with a gesture of generous love matter bursting with energy. In fact, it would seem that present-day science, with one sweeping step back across millions of centuries, has succeeded in bearing witness to that primordial “Fiat lux” uttered at the moment when, along with matter, there burst forth from nothing a sea of light and radiation, while the particles of chemical elements split and formed into millions of galaxies.

Now let us interpret Humani Generis. As far as Pope Pius XII is concerned, science has already shown there was a Big Bang millions of years ago and evolution of all followed. Humani Generis however ONLY CONCERNS ITSELF WITH THE EVOLUTION OR NOT OF THE HUMAN BODY. That he says has not been resolved yet BUT INFERRS THAT THIS COULD HAVE EVOLVED AND SCIENCE MUST BE CONSULTED before any of you go off thinking Adam's body did not evolve.

Interesting! Gerry asked me to arrange a tour through our diocese. He already had the written approval of our bishop. I organised all the venues, but it was thwarted by the vicar-general. Shortly after, the v-g left and became a funeral director and marriage celebrant! This was shortly before we left newchurch for good.

I'll take your advice and sign up. Thank you cassini!

"Pope St. Pius X in his 1907 Lamentabili Sane condemned the proposition “Divine inspiration does not extend to all of Sacred Scriptures so that it renders its parts, each and every one, free from every error” (LS 11)."

https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/is-scripture-inerrant

I have the impression that you think this contradicts what I am saying.  It does not.  I completely agree that Scripture is free from error.  But that does not mean that one ought to understand figurative expressions as if they were literal.

Well, some people do think that The Bible is being figurative when it talks about places like Hell and that the pain of this life is the only  real Hell.  Is that what you mean?  No.  I doubt that.  Do you mean that The Six Days of Creation are figurative?  Could they really be 6 trillion days instead?  I'm not sure what you think about that.  Do you think The Virgin Birth was literal?  Did Christ really feed the five thousand or did they really mean, it was like thousands of people, but could have been just a large crowd that any old fishing boat could have fed with a small catch and Christ was just being generous, with some of The Disciples catch for the day?
 
My point is, when you start down this road, it begs the question:  where shall you draw the line?  I'm sure you think that you've drawn it in a "safe place."  Maybe you are right and maybe it will never bring you any trouble.  But, there are over 6 billion people in this World and they must be told where to draw The Line.  Otherwise, history has proved time and time again, that they will push the line further and further, to justify their growing appetite for Sin, until they finally deny the very Divinity of Christ.  

Pope Leo, not I, drew the line and people who are following Church teaching know what it is:  

" The sacred writers, or to speak more accurately, the Holy Ghost Who spoke by them, did not intend to teach men these things (that is to say, the essential nature of the things of the visible universe), things in no way profitable unto salvation. Hence they did not seek to penetrate the secrets of nature, but rather described and dealt with things in more or less figurative language, or in terms which were commonly used at the time."

This is very clear about what it applies to - things of the visible universe in no way profitable unto salvation.  It does not include the existence of hell, the Virgin Birth, events in the life of Christ, etc.  Nothing mentioned in the Creed can be affected by the principle of interpretation taught in Prudentissimus Deus.  It only concerns things like the shape of the earth.  

It does not mean that anyone can throw out anything he feels like by claiming it is figurative.  You are manufacturing difficulties that do not really exist.

"In 1893 Pope Leo XIII issued the most comprehensive treatment of Scripture interpretation the world had seen. Providentissimus Deus was a landmark encyclical that sought to correct the plethora of error about Scripture then circulating the world. In it, the pontiff traced the history of Scripture in the Catholic Church, addressed challenges, and defended the truth of Scripture. Pope Leo affirmed an unrestricted understanding of the inerrancy of Scripture:
 
For all the books which the Church receives as sacred and canonical are written wholly and entirely, with all their parts, at the dictation of the Holy Ghost; and so far is it from being possible that any error can co-exist with inspiration, that inspiration not only is essentially incompatible with error but excludes and rejects it as absolutely and necessarily, as it is impossible that God Himself, the supreme Truth, can utter that which is not true. . . . It follows that those who maintain that an error is possible in any genuine passage of the sacred writings either pervert the Catholic notion of inspiration or make God the author of such error (Providentissimus Deus, 20-21)."

https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/is-scripture-inerrant

This is what I am trying to tell you.  There is no error in Scripture.  Your interpretation is the error.

We must either prove it to be false or believe it to be so.  That's the choice Leo gives us, as he quotes Augustine.  I believe we have proven it to be false and if we have, then all Catholics have a duty to believe it, according to Jayne's favorite Papal Encyclical.  So, if you don't want to end up a "Flatty," you'd better quit reading our threads or start proving us wrong and you'd better do a better job of it, than that Oaf Neil does!   :D

It is obvious, The Church has a duty to defend The Inerrancy of Scripture.  It is also obvious that Modern Science has made a mockery of The Bible.  Furthermore, it is obvious that The Fruits of Modern Science have been bitter.  So, as Catholics we should suspect that Modern Science is an Enemy to The Faith and as such, should stand ready to challenge it, when it contradicts The Faith/Scripture.  If we can show that it is False (something we should always be open minded to, since it has been so mendacious in other things), then we should attack it.  We have a duty to defend The Faith and The Scripture is our Faith.  It is The Word Of God.  

Any truly decent scholar of Ancient Literature, regardless of their religion or lack thereof, will tell you, The Bible depicts a Flat and Motionless Earth, that was Created in 6 days and is several thousand years old.  Any truly Modern Scientist will tell that is hogwash.  So, either God is a liar or Modern Science (driven by Modernism) is.  

If this is all too much for you, then I suggest your faith may be rooted in emotion or spiritual experience, but not reason.  Which of course, is o.k.  However, reason, if honest, open minded and humble, will inevitably lead to God.