Venice, Apr. 19, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna delivered a paper on evolution and the Catholic faith at an April 18 session of the "academic days" of the Studium Generale Marcianum in Venice, Italy.
 
 Cardinal Schönborn, who has taken a special interest in the discussion of evolutionary theory, addressed ideological aspects of Darwinism, including the fact that Marx and Engels recognized Darwinism as the scientific basis for materialism. Prior to Darwin, he noted, many scientists-- including Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton recognized signs of the Creator in nature. According to the cardinal, “Not all versions of the theory of evolution are compatible with a belief in God the Creator.”
 
 The Austrian prelate had generated a lively discussion with a short essay on evolution and faith that was published in the New York Times in July 2005. More recently he spoke at the September 2006 seminar organized by Pope Benedict XVI for his former theology students. Cardinal Schönborn, who is himself a former student of the Pontiff, is one of the contributors to a book released earlier this month, preserving the main addresses from the papal seminar.
 
 The Marcianum opened in 2004 under the auspices of Venice’s patriarch, Cardinal Angelo Scola. It includes a canon law and religious sciences institute, a publishing house, and a library. The archdiocesan seminary and the Oasis international journal, dedicated to interfaith dialogue, are also associated with the Marcianum.