Intelligent Design, anyone?

By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | Nov 10, 2005

Last week a curial cardinal encouraged Christians to respect scientific evidence, and dozens of eager journalists pumped out stories.

First the headlines said that the Vatican had embraced evolution-- a considerable stretch from Cardinal Poupard's actual words. Then they suggested that the Vatican had rejected the theory of Intelligent Design-- a subject not even mentioned in the cardinal's talk.

OK, two sides can play that game.

Today during his weekly audience, Pope Benedict chided those who "imagine the universe without guidance or order, as though at the mercy of chaos."

Look, I am not going to say that the Pope just endorsed Intelligent Design. But that sure doesn't sound like a condemnation of the theory, does it?

24 hours later I suppose it would be bad form to say I told you so.