title: Science and Theology: Ruminations on the Cosmos (From the Vatican Observatory Foundation)
author:  Chris Impey 
description: Chris Impey is Professor of Astronomy and Director of the Graduate Program at the Steward Observatory of the University of Arizona.
zlib_text: It is three thousand light-years to the Vatican. Once I believed that space
  could have no power over faith. Just as I believed that the heavens declared
  the glory of God’s handiwork. Now I have seen that handiwork, and my faith is
  sorely troubled.
  
  I stare at the crucifix that hangs on the cabin wall above the Mark VI
  computer, and for the first time in my life I wonder if it is no more than an
  empty symbol.
  
  I have told no one yet, but the truth cannot be con-cealed. The data are there
  for anyone to read, recorded on the countless miles of magnetic tape and the
  thousands of photographs we are carrying back to Earth. Other scientists can
  interpret them as easily as I canmore easily, in all probability. I am not one
  who would condone that tamper-ing with the truth which often gave my order a
  bad name in the olden days.
  
  The crew is already sufficiently depressed, I wonder how they will take this
  ultimate irony. Few of them have any religious faith, yet they will not relish
  using this fi