Vatican Astronomer: Aliens Could Exist
CBNNews.com
Mey 14, 2008
CBNNews.com - The Vatican's top astronomer says aliens could exist, and that they may have "remained in full friendship" with God.
In a recent interview, the Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes, head of the Vatican Observatory, said believing in extraterrestrials does not contradict faith in God.
"Just as a multiplicity of creatures exists on the Earth, so there could be other creatures, even intelligent ones, created by God," he said. "This does not conflict with our faith, because we cannot set limits on the creative liberty of God."
Funes added that these creatures may have never sinned, and thus, do not need salvation through Christianity.
"They may have remained in full friendship with their Creator," he said.
The Argentine Jesuit was quoted in the May 14 edition of the official Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano. The article was titled "The extraterrestrial is my brother."
In the interview, Funes also hinted that extraterrestrial life aligned with the Catholic faith.
"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," he said.
The Vatican observatory has been trying recently to bridge the gap between religion and science. Funes said he believed that the debate between the two could be improved if one learned more about the background of the other.
"As an astronomer, I continue to believe that God is the creator of the universe and that we are not the product of something casual, but children of a good father who has a project of love in mind for us," he said.
Pope Benedict XVI appointed Funes in 2006 to replace Rev. George Coyne, who had outwardly opposed the idea of intelligent design.
Sources: Religion News Service, Reuters, The Associated Press
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