VATICAN CITY (AP) -- 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.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/V/VATICAN_ALIENS?SITE=FLSTU&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
So, do aliens believe in Catholics?
3 comments:
This opens another can of worms, doesn't it? How nice for the church to equate possibly intelligent extraterrestrial life with "other of god's creatures here on earth..."
So, what - they might be mighty fine animals, but still animals, all the same? How generous of the church. "They may not be God's chosen, but God made 'em just the same - say! Wonder how they'd taste with a little ketchup..."
Wonder if upon visiting other planets with life forms there'd be the earth inquisition?
Gee now I'm sounding like Zymurgian.
Earth compared to space is like a pinhead compared to earth. We have been exploring our own planet for millions of years and are still making new discoveries. Anyone who with an open mind to reality should realize that there is the possibly of life in the never ending space beyond our planet.
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