The problem is the idea is too politicised. Its the nature of American christianity to be ridgid, conservative and to equate the ideas with the left. This makes them automatically hated by some republicans.

I mean the pope believes in evolution, consequently catholics should have no problem with evolution - if they did not reject the statement through misunderstanding or ignorance. For instance Poland is a very Catholic country its just no one ever bothers to stand up and preach against evolution because there is no idealogical objection to it in Catholicism. Besides most Catholics are not great bible readers or biblical literalists like some in the protestant faith. Therefore Poland does better than the US despite (one presumes) having an inferior education system.