Does the Catholic Church teach that it's okay for people to research and educate themselves?

Question

I do a lot of research before making decisions. I read books, look at research and studies. A person in the family keeps saying "you can find statistics to support anything" in a negative way pretty much saying that we can't rely on research and studies to make our decisions. I use credible studies, not just someone's opinion.there are facts and references cited, etc. If science tells me one thing, and the Church confirms it, or doesn't deny it- I usually follow that path.

To give an example- Breastfeeding is best. Science supports this and the Church does as well. 

Does the Church or any Popes have any statements regarding that we have a responsibility to obey (or at least consider) good science and that we have a responsibility to educate ourselves and look at different resources to make our decisions?

Thanks...

Susanna LIVES · Accepted Answer

they do promote education in a secular worldy nature, however I am very dismayed that they do not condone God's holy living Word as 100% Authority:-( that I cannot and will not accept, they "can" but for me and my household, we will serve the Lord:-) and if any here choose to refute me then I offer their own institutions words (not mine) in defense of what I have stated:
Misguided men of long years past announced that God's holy 
day was changed from Sabbath to Sunday. God predicted it would happen, and it 
did. This error was passed on to our unsuspecting generation as gospel fact. 
Sundaykeeping is a tradition of uninspired men and breaks God's law, which 
commands Sabbathkeeping. Only God can make a day holy. God blessed the Sabbath, 
and when God blesses, no man can "reverse it." Numbers 23:20
the church tried to change The Lord's Day Sabbath to sun day. as Daniel said they would "think to change times and laws" (Daniel 7:25) No one can actually change God's law, they only 'think' they were doing it. The converts catechism Doctrine pg. 50 tells us this"Question: which day is the Sabbath day?" Answer: Saturday is the Sabbath Day. Question: why do we observe sunday? Answer: because the church changed the day from Saturday to sunday.: 
There has been NO command from Jesus, the desciples, or in the Bible to keep any other day but the 7th Day Sabbath of Jesus. the RCC church however, 

***has declared it is above the Bible and has established her own mark of authority and allegiance-a counterfeit Sabbath.  "Of course, the Catholic church claims that the change was her act.  And that act is a mark of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters." James Cardinal Gibbons. 
Another statement: Sunday is our mark of authority...the church is above the Bible, and this transferrence of the Sabbath observance is proof of that fact.: Catholic Record, London Ontario, Sept. 1, 1923.  On May 31, 1998 John Paul II issued an Apostilic Letter called Dies Domini - The Lords Day. Section 67 says "Christians will naturally strive to ensure civil legislation respects their duty to keep sunday holy.  

so IMH and most Humble opionion, I find this to be a very dangerous "unintelligent" decision. I cannot support nor even pretend to accept this one iota.

Anonymous · Answer

I am Catholic, but wasn't "born into the Church".  Rather I was schooled in Eastern Chrisitanity, though not officially Orthodox.  I have generally found that the best Catholics are those that try to understand their faith to the best of their ability, but don't necessarily follow all its dogmas to the letter (being overly legalisitc, et. al.). For this reason, any Church that claims it knows the TOTAL TRUTH is false because the TOTAL TRUTH belongs to God alone. Eastern Christianity has the "advantage" in this argument because they assert that it isn't possible for mere mortals to know everything there is to know about God.  If we did know everything there was know about God, then we would be God's equal.  And obviously we aren't.  Catholicism has always regarded itself as an evolving faith.  It has never claimed that its popes were equal to Jesus.  Merely that the pope is believed to be guided by the Holy Spirit when teaching on matters of faith and morals.  The Catholic Church embraces the quest for knowledge, so long as that knowledge doesn't lead to destructive ends..

carl · Answer

Yes.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Mechanized0#p/c/0/OhARNW4l13g

Mark · Answer

The Catholic Church is not anti-science.  They differ from the fundamentalists in that regard.

Is this the sort of quote you are looking for?

"Science can purify religion from error and superstition. Religion can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes."--Pope John Paul II

Anonymous · Answer

Of course. All truth leads to God.

"There are not more than 100 people in the world who truly hate the Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they perceive to be the Catholic Church. ....As a matter of fact, if we Catholics believed all of the untruths and lies which were said against the Church, we probably would hate the Church a thousand times more than they do."

-----Archbishop Sheen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs6qZd_xP1w

Peace be with you

<<<Devout Catholic>>>

http://catholicmyths.blogspot.com/

Trending News

Does the Catholic Church teach that it's okay for people to research and educate themselves?

5 Answers