Pope Fires his Chief Astronomer

Originally posted by Palynka
Do you agree that the RCC [b]wants the astronomer to be Catholic?[/b]

Two posts ago:

they WANT everybody to be a Catholic, but why is it NECESSARY for their astronomer to be a Catholic (and have a certain set of beliefs as well)?

Any day now you can answer that question ( a variant of which has been asked all page).

Originally posted by no1marauder
Two posts ago:

they WANT everybody to be a Catholic, but why is it NECESSARY for their astronomer to be a Catholic (and have a certain set of beliefs as well)?

Any day now you can answer that question ( a variant of which has been asked all page).

So why would an employer recruit someone for a high ranking position that doesn't share the goals and purpose of that institution?

Originally posted by Palynka
So why would an employer recruit someone for a high ranking position that doesn't share the goals and purpose of that institution?

Why won't you just answer the freaking question? The head of the Vatican Observatory is hardly a "high ranking position" in the RCC.

Originally posted by no1marauder
Why won't you just answer the freaking question? The head of the Vatican Observatory is hardly a "high ranking position" in the RCC.

I just did.

If the head of the observatory isn't a Catholic how would that observatory serve the interests of the RCC? I don't see how, it would simply be a normal observatory, charitably funded by the RCC.

Originally posted by Palynka
I just did.

If the head of the observatory isn't a Catholic how would that observatory serve the interests of the RCC? I don't see how, it would simply be a normal observatory, charitably funded by the RCC.

Your reasoning powers are certainly stunted then. It is utterly unclear why the religion of the head of the Observatory is important in determining whether the Observatory "serves the interests of the RCC".

Originally posted by Palynka
I just did.

If the head of the observatory isn't a Catholic how would that observatory serve the interests of the RCC? I don't see how, it would simply be a normal observatory, charitably funded by the RCC.

As a possibly interesting asside...I think the telescope in AZ was donated to the scientific community as an apology of sorts for the "mis-understanding" surrounding the gallileo situation and scientists in the field refer to it as "the pope scope".

Originally posted by TheSkipper
As a possibly interesting asside...I think the telescope in AZ was donated to the scientific community as an apology of sorts for the "mis-understanding" surrounding the gallileo situation and scientists in the field refer to it as "the pope scope".

Do you think one day they might, in a similar act of atonement, fund birth control for all women in Africa?

Originally posted by no1marauder
Your reasoning powers are certainly stunted then. It is utterly unclear why the religion of the head of the Observatory is important in determining whether the Observatory "serves the interests of the RCC".

I assure you, my reasoning powers may be stunted, but not on this issue.

Originally posted by TheSkipper
As a possibly interesting asside...I think the telescope in AZ was donated to the scientific community as an apology of sorts for the "mis-understanding" surrounding the gallileo situation and scientists in the field refer to it as "the pope scope".

It wasn't donated at all, that's why the Director of the Observatory is appointed by the RCC.

Originally posted by Palynka
I assure you, my reasoning powers may be stunted, but not on this issue.

Keep dodging.

As an aside, the Observatory is actually operated by the Jesuits so its head isn't even a "position" in the RCC, never mind a "high ranking one".

The Vatican Observatory is one of the oldest astronomical institutes in the world and the only research group directly supported by the Holy See. The church funds the observatory to the tune of about $1 million a year, leaving its operation to the Jesuits, a religious order whose "charism," or special gift to the church, is scholarship.

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/astronomy/vatican_observe_000716.html

Originally posted by no1marauder
Keep dodging.

As an aside, the Observatory is actually operated by the Jesuits so its head isn't even a "position" in the RCC, never mind a "high ranking one".

The Vatican Observatory is one of the oldest astronomical institutes in the world and the only research group directly supported by the Holy See. The church funds the obse ...[text shortened]... holarship.

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/astronomy/vatican_observe_000716.html

Naive, as usual.

And read Guy Consolmagno's declarations and understand why it needs to be a Catholic.

Originally posted by Palynka
It wasn't donated at all, that's why the Director of the Observatory is appointed by the RCC.

Oh, I must have mis-understood. I think secuslr scientist may apply for time on it though.

The pope scope...I love it.

Originally posted by Palynka
Naive, as usual.

And read Guy Consolmagno's declarations and understand why it needs to be a Catholic.

No. This is a discussion Forum; either give your views clearly or don't; I'm not interested in wild goose chases for other people's opinions.

Originally posted by TheSkipper
Oh, I must have mis-understood. I think secuslr scientist may apply for time on it though.

The pope scope...I love it.

No, it was probably my mistake. He may not be appointed by the Vatican, but its clear that they must approve the choice which is tantamount to the same thing in practice.

Originally posted by no1marauder
No. This is a discussion Forum; either give your views clearly or don't.

I did. That you didn't understand them, doesn't mean they weren't clear.