On the Square Today

Stephen Barr on science, reason, and Catholic faith :

There is hardly any subject about which there is more widespread ignorance and misinformation than the relationship between the Catholic faith and science. This ignorance extends to all sectors of society, from the “man on the street” to the professor at the elite university; and it has taken a terrible toll. Gross misconceptions about the Church’s teachings and about her historical record with regard to science have undermined the faith of many believers and have created suspicion towards religion in many nonbelievers.

It would be easy to blame this state of affairs entirely on the hostility of militantly atheist or anti-Catholic people. And indeed, for well over two centuries there has been relentless propaganda about the supposed warfare between religion and science. However, it is also the case that Catholics have not been vigorous enough in confronting these issues and telling our side of the story.