In Defence of Marxism

For 2000 years the Catholic Church has taught that we humans and all life on the planet are the unique product of God's creation. However, in the recent period more and more planetary systems have been discovered around stars, some that lie within the habitable zone. And the latest statements emanating from the Vatican indicate that they are getting ready for the possible discovery of life on other planets.

Father Funes, director of the Vatican Observatory near Rome, has stated in an article under the title "Aliens Are My Brother", that intelligent beings created by God could exist in outer space, but he added that this does not contradict belief in God. Apparently they do not rule out that life may even exist on Mars.

This in itself is something that many scientists have contemplated for some time, but Father Funes adds his own speculation. He raises the possibility that some aliens could even be free from original sin. Could that be because there are no apples on Mars for a Martian Eve to tempt Adam with? With no original sin on other planets, does that mean that there is no suffering and that everyone still lives in an extra-terrestrial Garden of Eden?

However, Father Funes does make an attempt to update the Church's thinking on science. He stated that the condemnation of Galileo in 1633 had been a mistake. The Church is also trying to catch up on Darwin and to show how modern they have become they are now preparing a conference to mark the 200th anniversary of his birth.

How much the present Pope appreciates all this is another matter. Back in 1990 when he was known as Cardinal Ratzinger, and was in charge of Roman Catholic doctrine, he commented on the trial of Galileo in the 17th-Century, stating that the Catholic Church's condemnation of Galileo had been "rational and just".

Now, all that Galileo said was that the Earth revolved around the Sun. Father Funes has gone somewhat further than that. With Ratzinger around he had better watch his step.