L a relationship between science and religion has always been the subject of much discussion throughout history and in most cases no a point of agreement among those who are for one or another position. For example, to quote the debate between evolutionists (Darwin) and creationists, which almost always ends up going nowhere. However, at present the position of the Catholic Church to science is more open and flexible, having important occasions gerarcas Catholics recognize the value of scientific theories. Recently, Bishop Sergio Pagano, an official in the Vatican publicly acknowledged the risk of religious bias at the major advances in science, and the importance of the parishioners have the discretion to accept the findings in scientific research. Without doubt, the public statements of Bishop Sergio Pagano, is a sign that religion should have the flexibility to not always be subject to immutable dogmas, as when it was believed that the earth was the center of the universe and that old and fruitless discussions between science and religion should be a thing of the past.
Below you will find the full story: The Vatican must not make the same mistake with Galileo: prelate
Reuters Posted: 02/07/2009 14:03
Church Catholic should not fear scientific progress and possibly make the same mistake when it condemned the astronomer Galileo Galilei in the seventeenth century, said Thursday a senior official of the Vatican in a rare example of self-criticism. Galileo, who lived between 1564 and 1642, was condemned by the Inquisition in 1633 to ensure that the Earth revolved around the sun completely wiped Vatican reputation known as the father of astronomy, until 1992, nearly 360 years after his death.
In a press conference which presented a new volume of documents in the case of Galileo, Monsignor Sergio Pagano, director of the Vatican Secret Archives, said today's Church and Vatican officials can learn of past mistakes and eliminate their lack of confidence in science. "Can this teach us today?" I think it certainly does, "he said in a rare show of self-criticism in the Vatican. "We should be careful when we read the Scriptures and we to deal with scientific issues, not make the same mistake now and then, "he said. "I'm thinking about stem cells, I think of eugenics, I'm thinking of scientific research in these fields. Sometimes I have the impression that they are condemned with the same preconceived ideas that we used the Copernican theory," he added.
The Inquisition, which persecuted the heretics, condemned Galileo for supporting Copernicus astronomer's theory because it clashed with what the Bible said that the earth was fixed. Pagano said that it was necessary for the leaders of today's Church and Vatican officials "Study more, be more prudent to evaluate things," when dealing with advances científicos.El prelate said that while scientists do not assume you can teach the Church about faith, the Church should not fear to address scientific issues " humility and discretion. "
The Catholic Church, along with other religious groups and pro-life advocates oppose embryonic stem cell research, which scientists hope will lead to finding cures for diseases such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's - because it involves destroying embryos.
But the Church supports adult stem cell research, which has made progress in recent years. The relationship between religion and science has been tense and prickly for centuries. For example, Christian churches were long hostile to the theory of Charles Darwin evolution because it conflicted with the biblical account that God created the world in six days.
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