"All the evidence currently points to this conclusion, and until science reveals any hint of supernatural meddling — which it has not – we will continue to have to accept naturalism as the ongoing scientific paradigm."

I have high expectation for this guy... he started his first speech with words "Pacem et vitam longam" (Live long and prosper)... and somehow i doubt he is jesuit at all...

Maybe I'm missing something, but you went to great length to discuss how the Catholic church has adopted a fairly advanced viewpoint on modern science, compared to other Christian doctrines, but then say the church falls flat because it doesn't keel over 'because Darwin.'?

With respect, Mr. Dvorsky makes a classical error in condemning the Church's position. (He also does not understand papal infallibility.) The Church does not speak authoritatively on matters of science, and sees no conflict between faith and science. However, it also recognizes, as Mr Dvorsky should, that science…

I don't understand what's so hard about this. I'm no genius, but I resolved this issue for myself when I was nine. There is no difference between an act of God and "material forces," because material forces are an act of God.