The catholics have always been (at least at the more liberal ends) actually quite aware of real politik. The last pope was making headway with a lot of contentious issues before he died (and unfortunately undid many of them in his last year by a number of illadvised comments).

The Catholic stance on evolution is often referred to as 'The Vatican compromise' as it is just that - a compromise. Basically, we'll accept that evolution exists if you accept that god could be involved. Its kept scientists and most sensible Christians (of all denominations, not just Catholics) happy and that is a good thing.

Though I would not say that the church left Darwin unmolested (at least not verbally - physically he was fine). The Bishop of Oxford of the time was quite scathing of the theory and hotly debated it at every opportunity. Though, it must be said that Huxley (in defending Darwin) gave as good as he got (including a rather spiffing riposte to a point made by the bishop about not wanting to be related to an ape where he stated that he would rather be related to an ape than to the Bishop). Plus I think the Bishop was CofE not Catholic...

I was taught (at a Catholic school) that the bible was never meant to be taken literally - it is metaphor and allegory - and that there is no one true interpretation of any scripture. I have to admit that I see those who take the bible as literal truth (instead of the intended spiritual truth) in the same light as idiots who think soap operas are real life events...