You can't blame Aquinas for sticking to Genesis when the alternative was Zeus v Titans.

There was no controversy, So taking a stand wasn't necessary.

In this day and age, Ham doesn't have a scientific or biblical leg to stand on. Its like this "rapture" nonsense also started in the 19th century. Non biblical made up sci fy stories for people who would rather engage in flattering fantasies "I didn't come from a monkey", "I am going to be raptured and all of you losers will be left behind" than to seriously consider Jesus' teachings and sacrifice a little of their egos and to try to live better, more fulfilling lives.

The entire "conflict" and "contradiction" between science and Genesis seems to be manufactured as an attention grabbing, divisive, ploy.