Any Questions?

Does anyone ask questions anymore? Please someone!

So, the Telegraph published an article about a Vatican astronomer's openness to the possibility of intelligent life elsewhere in the Universe. I'm not going to comment on the article, partly because it is at a glance too hard to comment on. Reading this article, one gets a sense that it is very difficult to distinguish between what Brother Guy Consolmagno said and how it was interpreted by the reporter. The last sentence of the article defends my point.

Anyways, could there be smart aliens out there? It is a fascinating question. One that we could entertain ourselves with forever. Oh, hold it, we have been entertaining ourselves with this idea forever. Well, how about a slight change in our train of thought.

The Church teaches that all of creation was impacted by the sin of man and that the renewal of creation will follow the redemption of man. We see things that are out of order in the natural world (disasters), and these are in some way connected with the fall of the pinnacle of God's creation (humanity). Well, how far does creation extend? Is the weather out of order in some way? How about the outer atmosphere? The moon? The solar system? The galaxy? Get the idea? Is the whole Universe flawed because of us?

For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. (Rom. 8:19-23) 

If there is other intelligent life, is it fallen? Was it's fall our fault? How would we send missionaries to share the Gospel with them? If there is another form of intelligent life with a rational soul, and it is fallen, then it would need a savior. Now, let's assume these beings do have rational souls but are not fallen. They would obviously not need to be baptized, because they would have no sin to wash away. But they would naturally want to know the Church because they would already be holy and be close to God.

The biggest question: If humanity was the pinnacle of God's creation and was given a rational soul to know God, would a different life form with a rational soul (assuming it is fallen) be able to be redeemed by a savior not of their kind?

Many people that claim the compatibility of faith and science too often look for the compatibility in the least common denominator.  Rather we must remember that God created faith and science. Therefore the whole of both must be compatible. Let's start to ask real questions people. Enough with these second grade level stories. Who does this Telegraph writer think he is writing for? Obviously not the science community, rather I'd probably say comedians or second graders.