VATICAN CITY (Zenit.org) — Benedict XVI appointed Jesuit Father José Gabriel Funes as the new director of the Vatican Astronomical Observatory, replacing Jesuit Father George Coyne.
Father Coyne, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, had been director of the observatory since 1978.
The Vatican press office announced the new director on Saturday.
Father Funes, 43, is a native of Cordoba, Argentina. He earned a degree in astronomy from the University of Cordoba.
He studied theology in Rome at the Gregorian University, and earned a doctorate in astronomy from the University of Padua in 2000. Father Funes has done considerable research on disk galaxies.
Well this is going to mess up the media’s annual rediscovery and shock of the Vatican observatory and put it out of cycle. Starting earlier in the month the media once again started running articles on this subject.
"People often ask me: `Do you believe in the Big Bang or in creation by God?’" Stoeger said, "and my answer is, `Yes.’"
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This Week in the Theocracy
Today we shall publish our bi-weekly round up hilighting our favorite posts of the Theocraticians
Perhaps Father Jose can settle this nonsensical nine planets or twelve planets thing.
This is rather interesting. If I remember right, Fr. Coyne wrote a scathing article against intelligent design when the topic was at its height. I haven’t kept up with the debate at all, so I am not one to say if Fr. Coyne’s article was good or not. This seems more interesting in the rumors that the pope will have a document about the evolution/intelligent design/creation issues being written soon.
It does seem like another move by the pope to slowly get rid of the “old guard” if you know what I mean.
I think an encyclical on this topic would be refreshing. All of the “intellectuals” who don’t know what they’re talking about will finally get a more authoritative piece on the subject – and put some common misunderstandings to rest.
I certainly would enjoy an encyclical on the topic.
However, I’m not certain that the so-called intellectuals would be particularly interested in what the Pope had to say, even if it is sympathetic to contemporary scientific claims. Most that I know would rather cling to the ahistorical, Enlightenment-era propaganda about Galileo than understand that Catholics actually appreciate (and contribute to) contemporary science.
Actually, a good book, “Christian Belief in a Postmodern World” by Diogenes Allen “gets it” and explains it well. He skillfully puts forward that without the Catholic faith, there would have been no Scientific Revolution at all and that an authentic Christian culture gave rise to the inquiries of the 16th and 17th century rather than working against them.
Those who have ears to hear…
I also suggest both Thomas Woods, “How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization” and “Darwin’s Black Box” by Michael Behe.
Each time I hear of a new papal appointment, I cheer! The old guard is clearing out!
Look out Church, we’re in for some reform!
Que viva Benedicto XVI!