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Nine years later, in the encyclical Humani Generis, Pius XII not only expressly forbade the teaching of Evolution Theory as though it were already proved, but he also instructed that data pointing both for and against Evolution Theory must be given due consideration. Further, he also declared that

"The first eleven chapters of Genesis, although properly speaking not conforming to the historical method used by the best Greek and Latin writers or by competent authors of our time, do nevertheless pertain to history in the true sense which, however, must be further studied and determined by exegetes; the same chapters in simple and metaphorical languages, adapted to the mentality of a people but little cultured, both state principal truths which are fundamental for our salvation and also give a popular description of the origin of the human race and chosen people." 13

Catholics are not free to believe in Naturalistic Philosophy, and Pope Pius XII did not specifically define Evolution as an "open question" - so how can it now truly be regarded as an open question, as though it does not matter whether human beings evolved from ape-like ancestors? After all, scientists, theologians and exegetes were permitted by the successor of Peter in 1950 to hypothesize only about the possibility of evolution of the human body:

"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 insofar as it inquires into the origin of the human body as coming from pre-existent and living matter - for the Catholic Church obliges us to hold that souls are immediately created by God.

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13 Pope Pius XII, Humani Generis, Denzinger p. 2329 (Wanderer Press translation). Emphasis added.