I'm trying to better understand the Catholic position in a few areas. These are areas where my opinions do not coincide with Catholic beliefs. One of them was brought up in the on-going thread about IVF.
So does anyone know of any good books/scholarly articles that I could learn why the Catholic beliefs are what they are regarding:
Birth control/sex/infertility/why life begins at conception (that's very broad, I know. I am very interested in why the Church has their view of fornication as well).
Communion (I know why there is communion but I've been told in the Catholic church many parishes believe it to be literal instead of symbolic)
Why evolution is wrong? (I am very familiar with evolution, I'm just not familiar with how the Church can vehemently deny it. I don't want to start a debate as I know this is a hot topic, I'm simply interested in the Church's stance on why it can't be true.)
Homosexuality being a sin (I realize that the Church believes that sex should be only for child rearing, so I get that part, I just didn't know if there was more to it)
I'm sure there are more that I just can't think of right now. Like I said, my main goal is not to refute the beliefs of the Church or sway my own beliefs. I just don't really know WHY the teachings are what they are and I would like to. I would like a better understanding if I'm going to start attending masses and if my children will be raised in the church.
Or, if any of you could explain these things to me objectively you can PM me.
Thanks in advance for your help.