Vatican: It's OK to believe in aliens

By ARIEL DAVID
Associated Press Writer


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.
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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.
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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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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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Are they preparing us for a major announcement?

That is one thing that sets them apart.

Dinosaurs, evolution... It's all good.

But this pope might be another matter. He sacked Funes' 28-year predecessor because the guy insisted Intelligent Design wasn't science.

:evilgrin:

they must figure he must have been doing something for the last 2000 years.

another Planet?

that aliens are just fucking around with us than God is fucking around with us. Since God wouldn't do that type of shit that is always happening.

But since Pius XII condemned polygenism, the notion that humans are descended from more than two literal parents, any notion of intelligent extraterrestrial life contradicts Catholic dogma.

Because I was totally waiting for them to weigh in on that before I took a stance myself. :eyes:

I don't think JPII's comment about Galileo is accurate. There was no incomprehension on the part of Galileo. He knew exactly what was going on. The Vatican was suppressing his ideas because they were counter to doctrine. Shifting some of the blame to Galileo makes the statement an impressive non-apology.

The Vatican, as in the Pope and/or the Universal Magisterium have not not made any such statement. Rather, one Reverend who works in Vatican gave his opinion about possible life outside of earth. It is utterly meaningless to Catholics because it holds no binding authority at all. It is no different than a Priest saying evolution does not exist, that would simply be his opinion and holds no binding authority on any Catholic.