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Page 7

The Catechism of the Catholic Church twice (pars. 28 and 360) quotes Acts 17:26: "From one ancestor [God] made all nations to inhabit the whole Earth." This quotation strongly suggests a reference to one person, but various Bibles are unclear on this point. That the Catechism refers to a single person is confirmed in footnote 226 of paragraph 360, which cites Tobit 8:8:

"Thou madest Adam of the slime of the earth and gave him Eve for a helper. From them the race of mankind has sprung . . . ."

The "one ancestor" could only be Adam. This teaching is also confirmed in section 359, which quotes St. John Chrysostom:

"St. Paul tells us that the human race takes its origin from two men: Adam and Christ . . . The first man, Adam . . . was made by the last Adam."

Therefore, polygenism should be regarded as irreconcilable with Catholic doctrine.

The Views of Pope Pius XII

Catholics believe that each pope, as the successor of St. Peter, is deserving of great respect and enjoys the privilege of infallibility. (See Denzinger Systematic Index IIIf.) However, loyal and informed Catholics also understand that each pope can otherwise be mistaken when expressing private, non ex cathedra opinions, and in matters concerning prudential judgement.

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