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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
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| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Wed May 14th, 2008 12:11 am |
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Vatican City, May 13, 2008 / 01:59 pm (CNA).- The Director of the Vatican's Observatory, Fr. José Gabriel Funes, said in an interview with the Vatican daily, L'Osservatore Romano, that believing in the possible existence of extraterrestrial life is not opposed to Catholic doctrine.
The 45-year-old Argentinean priest heads the Vatican Observatory, founded by Pope Leo XIII with offices at Castelgandolfo, near the Apostolic summer palace, and another in Tucson, Arizona. Fr. Funes has been in charge of the Observatory since August 2006.
The astronomer began the interview titled, "The Alien is my Brother," by saying that, "Astronomy has a profound human value. It is a science that opens the heart and the mind. It helps us to put our lives, our hopes, our problems in the right perspective. In this regard, and here I speak as a priest and a Jesuit, it is an apostolic instrument that can bring us closer to God", said Fr. Funes in the interview.
Regarding the beginning of the universe, Fr. Funes says that he personally believes that the "big bang" theory seems to him the most plausible, and that it does not contradict the Bible. "We cannot ask the Bible for a scientific answer here. At the same time, we don't know if in a near future the 'Big Bang' theory will be superseded by a more complete and precise explanation of the origin of the universe."
When he was asked about the possibility of extraterrestrial life, the Director of the Vatican Observatory responded that "it is possible, even if until now, we have no proof. But certainly in such a big universe this hypothesis cannot be excluded."
Asked is he sees a contradiction between the Catholic faith and believing in aliens, he said, "I think there isn't (a contradiction). Just as there is a multiplicity of creatures over the earth, so there could be other beings, even intelligent (beings), created by God. This is not in contradiction with our faith, because we cannot establish limits to God's creative freedom. To say it with St. Francis, if we can consider some earthly creatures as 'brothers' or 'sisters', why could we not speak of a 'brother alien'? He would also belong to the creation."
Fr. Funes says that taking the image of the lost sheep in the Gospel, "we could think that in this universe there can be 100 sheep, equivalent to different kinds of creatures. We, belonging to human kind could be precisely the lost sheep, the sinners that need the shepherd. God became man in Jesus to save us. In that way, assuming that there would be other intelligent beings, we could not say that they need redemption . They could have remained in full friendship with the Creator."
"But if they were sinners?" L'Osservatore's journalist asks.
Jesus became man once and for all. The Incarnation is a single and unique event. So I am sure that also they, in some way, would have the chance to enjoy God's mercy, just as it has happened with us human beings."
The above article is reposted with permission from Catholic News Agency.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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David W. Emery
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 1805 |
| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Wed May 14th, 2008 12:59 am |
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For the record, what Fr. Funes says in this article is not new. It is the standard theological understanding within the Catholic Church since the possibility of life in other worlds began to be pondered. Of course, it is all contingent on whether alien life actually exists. So far, as Fr. Funes specifically points out, although the theoretical possibility remains, none has been detected.
The Church officially takes no doctrinal stand on the existence of intelligent alien life; it doesn’t have to, because their existence or non-existence does not affect human salvation through Jesus Christ. In like manner, there is no reason to speculate too far on whether any possible aliens are “saved” after the manner of the human race, because this would depend on the state of their being before God. He alone has the right to make provision for any shortcoming, just as he has done in our case.
David
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Steven Barrett
Member
| Joined: | Tue Nov 14th, 2006 |
| Location: | Hadley, Massachusetts USA |
| Posts: | 804 |
| First Name: | Steven | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic, Episcopal communicant, Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Wed May 14th, 2008 03:49 am |
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Well! Where in the Bible does it say there are aliens in the first place!
Those papists are up to inventing things all over again: just like the stuff in those six books we threw out years ago.
What version, what chapter and what verse can tell me God put folks way up in Mars and such?
Are they the Martian-ites, or are they like those Hit-ites, Jebu-sites, and way out of sights? 
Where in can you prove, without a doubt, on a stack of Bibles, can you prove in a Bible, that there's ever been an ecumenical gathering between Martians and Venutians? 
Dunno: But maybe a chancery has a copy of some Martian's dispensation form. I'll send a guy right up and check it out.  
(Pssssst: I think you can find out what they look like in the double secret, ultra hide-away where the Pope and a handful of cardinals whose names are never to be revealed have this picture of what one of those aliens might look like. It could be spooky for folks, warnin' ya!
or
or
If you can't get it from the Holy See,
Maybe Tim LaHaye knows for sure ... he's supposed
to have a huge file on all those raptured folks.
____________________
For anyone suffering from a mental illness or has a loved one with a mental illness, my book "Lead kindly Light: A Devotional For The Mentally Ill" might be of some help: http://www.lulu.com/ (Use search box at the top of page.)
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Ali
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| Joined: | Sat Jan 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 660 |
| First Name: | Ali | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | JW, finally fully Catholic |
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Posted: Wed May 14th, 2008 11:26 am |
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LOL, Steve!
Exactly what do you suppose those crazy Catholic are going to up with next? 
Ali
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Steven Barrett
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| Joined: | Tue Nov 14th, 2006 |
| Location: | Hadley, Massachusetts USA |
| Posts: | 804 |
| First Name: | Steven | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic, Episcopal communicant, Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Wed May 14th, 2008 05:34 pm |
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The last I heard Ali, it all came about when Fr. Funes saw something that looked just like a megachurch he'd seen on Google maps.
What a coincidence! They're here, they're everywhere: Invasion of the Soul Snatchers and Sheep Stealers!
But don't worry, we won't be signing up Tom Cruise and his gang to make this film. Besides, his reverted back to reality Catholic ex Nicole would make for much better viewing (well, from a guy's viewpoint.)
Yeah, "Invasion of the Soul Snatchers!" (or "sheep stealers") They've got a nice ring to them. Accurate, too. Now, if Fr. Funes hears "P & W" music, then we'll know for sure!
____________________
For anyone suffering from a mental illness or has a loved one with a mental illness, my book "Lead kindly Light: A Devotional For The Mentally Ill" might be of some help: http://www.lulu.com/ (Use search box at the top of page.)
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Dave Armstrong
Network Apologist
| Joined: | Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Melvindale, Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 1438 |
| First Name: | Dave | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Evangelical "Jesus Freak" (Arminian) / "Lewisian Schaefferite" / Catholic |
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Posted: Wed May 14th, 2008 08:23 pm |
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C. S. Lewis wrote about this topic many years ago, too. He also had fun in some of his books positing other worlds that were "unfallen." One must distinguish the following two propositions:
1) The Bible is silent about a) non-earthling creatures and b) other worlds (with inhabitants).
2) The Bible expressly and categorically states that a and b do not exist.
#1 is true, but #2 is not; therefore, it is entirely possible and not "unbiblical" to speculate as to the possible existence of same. Who are we to limit what God can nor cannot do?
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I'm happy to offer whatever theological & personal assistance I can. My blog, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, contains 1900+ papers & web pages (absolutely free) & 16 apologetic books (for sale):
http://www.biblicalcatholic.com/
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