Catholicism and Science

When most people think about Catholicism and science, they will automatically think of one of the famous events in the history of science - the condemnation of Galileo by the Roman Catholic Church. But the interaction of Catholics with science has been - and is - far more complex and positive than that depicted in the legend of the Galileo affair. Understanding the natural world has always been a strength of Catholic thought and research - from the great theologians of the Middle Ages to the present day - and science has been a hallmark of Catholic education for centuries.

PETER M.J. HESS serves as Faith Project Director with the National Center for Science Education (NCSE), and as adjunct professor at Saint Mary's College, Moraga, California. He is a member of the International Society for Science and Religion, and has worked for both the Metanexus Institute and the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences. His scholarly work focuses on the historical interaction between religion and the sciences. He is on the editorial board of the series.

PAUL L. ALLEN is Assistant Professor in Theological Studies at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec.