Vatican States Beliefs About the Possibility of Alien Life

Funes was referring specifically to life on Mars but more broadly stated, in the words of BBC News, that “intelligent beings created by God could exist in outer space.” Funes was writing in the Vatican newspaper in an article titled, “Aliens Are My Brother.”

“Science and religion need each other.”

The astronomer’s logic is that since there are many forms of life on earth, there could likewise be intelligent life elsewhere in the universe—some of whom could be “free of original sin.”

Additionally, Funes claims “science and religion need each other” and points to the many astronomers who believe in God. (Our guess, though, would be that Funes is not pointing to the many astronomers who are young-earth biblical creationists!)

Of note also is that the Vatican is organizing a conference next year to mark the bicentennial of the birth of Charles Darwin—a man whose work, even if unintentionally, did more to undermine faith in the authority of the Bible than nearly anyone else. We’ll be eager to hear if the Vatican changes its current “accommodating” position on Darwin at that time!

AiG–U.K.’s Paul Taylor took a closer look this week at the logic and import of Funes’s view in Vatican Astronomer Believes in ET?. Also, be sure you’ve visited our May campaign page, Is anyone out there?

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