The Catholic Church and science find common ground in climate change
The Catholic Church and scientists are joining hands to justify the fight against global warming
From Galileo to genetics, the Catholic Church has danced with science, sometimes in a high-tension tango but more often in a supportive waltz. Pope Francis is about to introduce a new twist: global warming.
The field of genetics was started by Catholic cleric Gregor Mendel. Entire aspects of astronomy, including the genesis of the Big Bang theory, began with members of the Catholic clergy. While some religions reject evolution, Catholicism has said it fits with the story of creation.
But when laypeople think of the church and science, one thing usually comes to mind: The prosecution of Galileo Galilei for heresy because he insisted the earth circled the sun and not the other way around.
The Catholic Church has "an uneven and not always congenial relationship with science", said science historian John Heilbron, who wrote a biography of Galileo.
But after ticking off some of the advances in science that the church sponsored, Heilbron added: "Probably on balance, the Catholic Church's exchange with science is pretty good."
The church teaches that science and faith are not contradictory and even work well together.