Vatican Observatory at Castel Gondolfo
The chief astronomer of the Roman Catholic Church called extraterrestrials his brothers.
The Lord is One over the Entire Universe
An article entitled “Extraterrestrials: My Brothers” in the official Vatican newspaper LÓsservatore Romano caused a stormy response in many quarters all over the world. Of course, one reason is that the author is not your common-garden UFO nutter. Rather, it is written by Fr José Gabriel Fuñes, SJ, an astronomer well-respected in scientific circles and the head of the Vatican Observatory at the papal summer residence in Castel Gondolfo. However, most likely, the content of the article reflects the views found in the higher reaches of the Catholic hierarchy.
Rev Fuñes postulates that it is possible to combine a belief in both the existence of God and in the existence of intelligent life on other planets. He said that one does not contradict the other in the least. Moreover, he starts with the assumption that intelligent experiential life-forms do exist, including those with civilisations that are far past us in development. “The Lord God, Who is One over the entire universe, created them the same as He did us. If on the earth there are myriads of God’s creatures, then, there can be others elsewhere”, he concludes.
“It is not for us to limit His creative freedom”. Rev Fuñes continued by quoting Francis of Assisi who considered all creatures on earth his brothers and sisters. “So, why can’t we relate in the same manner to extraterrestrials? How are they brothers? Indeed, they are a manifestation of the mercy of God”. According to Fr Gabriel, our extraterrestrial brothers have the same reason as human beings, and were created for salvation and atonement by Jesus Christ, and also receive the Divine Mercy.
The Vatican is Hiding Something
For the experts, the assertions of Fr Gabriel are not surprising. For some 10 years now, the Vatican has given increased attention to the question of intelligent extraterrestrial life-forms. John Paul II, the previous Pope of Rome, said personally in 1999 that the omnipotent Lord was free to create intelligent life where He willed, not only on the earth.
However, the UFO nutters, their imaginations heated by conspiratorial novels, suspect that the Vatican is hiding something. They pass about rumours concerning the existence of a secret Vatican commission for the study of contacts with extraterrestrials that analyses information sent to it from the Vatican nuncios and embassies throughout the world. They believe that the Vatican works closely with many intelligence services, that it finances secret institutes, and that it leases a powerful telescope in Arizona in the USA. Is it not preparing its flock for an official encounter with these newcomers, the existence of which is already fully known to the Vatican?
It is Better to Sit Quietly
For some, the fact that we are not alone in the universe makes the heart leap for joy. There are those that dream of the incomprehensible goods that our “brothers” shall bring to humanity. However… what if they are malicious? How are the newcomers portrayed in the majority of sci-fi films? They plot evil against us… to kill us… and to rob us blind! They are just like us…
As if to assuage such fears, Fr Gabriel writes that extraterrestrials may be free from the effects of original sin, that is, they are immortal, not liable to disease, and they live according to the laws of God, as Adam and Eve did before their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. The main thing is that they would be creatures absolutely devoid of malevolence.
That is not a fact, many retort. On 16 November 1974, American researchers sent a radio message aimed to reach an extraterrestrial civilization 25,000 light-years away from the radio-telescope at Arecibo in Puerto Rico. There was an immediate and perturbed cry from many quarters. Now, the International Astronomical Union recommends that scientists restrict the search for intelligent extraterrestrial life-forms to the passive reception of signals from space, avoiding the active transmission of data. After the Arecibo scandal of 1974, the US Congress decided to enact a complete prohibition of radio messages to other worlds from the territory of the USA. They said it was better to sit quietly… and not attract attention.
An Opinion of an Enthusiast
You shall not be Able to Hide from the Newcomers
“I do not think that it shall be necessary for us to hide from anyone”, said Aleksandr Zaitsev, Doctor of Physics and Mathematics, Chief Researcher at the Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics at the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAN). “If one assumes that there is a powerful and aggressive civilisation far ahead of us in development, you shall not be able to hide. If their technology is so advanced that they can attack the earth, that means that long ago they have latched on to our radio transmissions, for example, our satellite television, and they know everything about us. Conversely, if there is somewhere a civilisation that is equal in development to us, then, if we make radio contact, we run no risk. Neither of our technologies is advanced enough to fly from one star to another in a sufficiently short time”.
The Opinion of the Orthodox Church
The Bible says Nothing about Extraterrestrials
“Theoretically, we cannot deny that there may be, somewhere, in the depths of the universe, intelligent extraterrestrial life-forms”, said Bishop Mark of Yegorevsk. “However, the Bible says nothing about this. There are not even hints that God, besides man, created other extraterrestrial intelligences. Indeed, the Scripture seems to deny their existence”.
15 May 2008
Vladimir Lagovsky
Komslmolskaya Pravda
Interfax-Religion
http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=24452 (in Russian)
