Vatican: It's OK To Believe In Aliens

VATICAN CITY — Believing that the universe may contain alien life does not contradict a faith in God, the Vatican's chief astronomer said in an interview published Tuesday.

The Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes, the Jesuit director of the Vatican Observatory, was quoted as saying the vastness of the universe means it is possible there could be other forms of life outside Earth, even intelligent ones.

"How can we rule out that life may have developed elsewhere?" Funes said. "Just as we consider earthly creatures as 'a brother,' and 'sister,' why should we not talk about an 'extraterrestrial brother'? It would still be part of creation."

In the interview by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Funes said that such a notion "doesn't contradict our faith" because aliens would still be God's creatures. Ruling out the existence of aliens would be like "putting limits" on God's creative freedom, he said.

The interview, headlined "The extraterrestrial is my brother," covered a variety of topics including the relationship between the Roman Catholic Church and science, and the theological implications of the existence of alien life.

Funes said science, especially astronomy, does not contradict religion, touching on a theme of Pope Benedict XVI, who has made exploring the relationship between faith and reason a key aspect of his papacy.

The Bible "is not a science book," Funes said, adding that he believes the Big Bang theory is the most "reasonable" explanation for the creation of the universe. The theory says the universe began billions of years ago in the explosion of a single, super-dense point that contained all matter.

But he said he continues to believe that "God is the creator of the universe and that we are not the result of chance."

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Funes urged the church and the scientific community to leave behind divisions caused by Galileo's persecution 400 years ago, saying the incident has "caused wounds."

In 1633 the astronomer was tried as a heretic and forced to recant his theory that the Earth revolved around the sun. Church teaching at the time placed Earth at the center of the universe.

"The church has somehow recognized its mistakes," he said. "Maybe it could have done it better, but now it's time to heal those wounds and this can be done through calm dialogue and collaboration."

Pope John Paul declared in 1992 that the ruling against Galileo was an error resulting from "tragic mutual incomprehension."

The Vatican Observatory has been at the forefront of efforts to bridge the gap between religion and science. Its scientist-clerics have generated top-notch research and its meteorite collection is considered one of the world's best.

The observatory, founded by Pope Leo XIII in 1891, is based in Castel Gandolfo, a lakeside town in the hills outside Rome where the pope has a summer residence. It also conducts research at an observatory at the University of Arizona, in Tucson.

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On the Net:

Vatican Observatory: http://clavius.as.arizona.edu/vo

Comments

[DeathandTaxes]

What do they know and why are they not telling us!?

[CrabbyGolightly]

Catholics Can Finally Sleep Soundly Knowing Believing In Aliens Isn't A Sin
I

Who knew that that Catholics with imaginations had to hide this fact from other church-goers? Apparently more than gay priests have had to stay in the Catholic closet:

But even more groundshaking is the comment that The Bible "is not a science book." The church's chief astrologist said the Big Bang theory is the most "reasonable" explanation for how God created of the universe. Whoaa buddy! Have you informed the Pope about this heresy your spreading? And if the church is broadening its interpretation of the Book, it needs to get busy spreading that word to a whole lot of righteous followers tsk-tsking those who don't take it literally.

That the church is giving license to Catholics to think for themselves on the alien issue could cause all sorts of problems in the future: Doesn't this risk having Catholics think for themselves on more personally relevant topics, like birth control and abortion? If so, it would be a welcome change. Now if we can only get members of the Church of Oprah to think for themselves.

Crabby Golightly.com.

[gcallaghan]

So, When does the mothership arrive?

[darcy]

Thanks, dude, I was really worried about how the pope-dope would feel about Martian microbes.

[themne]

This whole nonesense is ridiculous -- how dare he force his beliefs on other as to what to believe. "You have permission. " I do not need your permission. I have a mind of my own and I intend to use it. Do not attempt, Mr. red shoes, to instruct me on how to use my mind. What an effing egotist. The balls on this man -- who gave him power to dictate the contents of the universe. I am my own god.

[Hollyse]

God is a report card never shown to our parents and certainly never society when our belief systems don't syncronize with the left and right views of church practices and philosphies 101, 102, 103 and 104. Let's extend onto graduate school Sunday church where you, the forever ongoing student, hopes graduate school offers more liberties than previous classes. It does for those folks attending classes to pick and choose time slots 6:00 am, 7:30 am, 9:00 am, 10.30 am, 12:00 noon least we forget for those not wanting Sunday's roll call from old school attendance can be off the cuff Saturday night permission slips instead of formal Sunday-go-to meeting reference services. Sounds to me when the pope finished watching the Star Wars series (ok, some political agenda knowing there's possibility of numerous life forms...enter Planet X 2012. It's time to cough up more realities towards what's going to be knocking on our doors very soon. Take a deep breath. You're going to need it.

[Marlyn]

"he continues to believe that God is the creator of the universe and that we are not the result of chance."

OK, he is halfway there. The theory of evolution is NOT the theory that things evolved by chance. The theory say that NATURAL SELECTION is the method.

As to who or what "created" the universe, I believe that the word "God" is used for all sorts of things, all of which we don't understand, too big, infinite, too long, eternal, a metaphor for the mystery which transcends all categories of human thought. But it's NOT a guy in the sky listening to and sometimes answering our prayers.

[joelaf]

This just in from the Pope, oh, wait, he's not MY Pope, so I don't care. It's okay to believe in Aliens, as long as they recognise the Pope as being g*d's own mouthpiece here on the most important planet in all the world. Hey, and the Pope gave up playing golf with Bush, as a show of solidarity with the intergallactic soldiers being killed in our secret space war.

[ExPatriot70]

they have perpetuated a myth for 2000 years now at least they are talking about something that actually could be true.

[WilliamGossett]

What's more - they believe in Republicans.

[WilliamGossett]

That's OK

They believe in talking snakes and fatherless men speaking and raising people from the dead.

[wondering]

No doubt the church is lining up missionaries at this moment. Won't the aliens be surprised to learn that they have never heard of Jesus before.

And still no word on whether the church will frown on these aliens wearing condoms or engaging in gay sex. What are they waiting for?

[Gary47]

This is a group that believes literally in walking on water, rising from the dead, a virgin birth and the efficacy of the rhythm method. Acceptance of aliens seems rather second rate.

[jaschrod]

And, and the Easter Bunny, and the tooth fairy, and anything that may be construed as a miracle. Oh do not forget, if you cannot explain it, then god must have done it, oh I forgot that is what they thought over 2,000 years ago before there was any scientific knowledge what-so-ever.

[wndrwrthg]

This just in: Aliens say the Vatican has no basis in reality. As nearly as they can determined, it is nothing more than the light from the planet Venus refracted through swamp gas.

[mamacat]

Since the Bible does not proscribe a belief in UFOs and ETs, the Vatican is willing to discuss whether or not they are real. Too bad they are not as open-minded about birth control.