Oregon parishioners connect faith with astronomy

Published: 2004-06-04

PORTLAND, Ore. (CNS) -- One night each month dozens of parishioners of St. Agatha in Portland meet in the parish hall to discuss science and the universe. Then, weather permitting, they go outside for a firsthand look at the stars and planets using high-powered telescopes they purchased through a $5,000 grant from the Portland Archdiocese several years ago. The parishioners are working on a computer link to scientists from the Vatican Observatory and in the process, they hope to highlight a connection between faith and astronomy. Outside the Gothic stone church on a recent starry night, children, teens, college students and adults took turns viewing Jupiter, the moon, the Orion nebula and Saturn. Most had never gotten such a close look at these distant marvels. Guest speaker Norm Franzen told participants that it is an exciting time for people of faith because astronomy is pointing toward the moment of creation. "Modern science can give us the best evidence to support faith since before Charles Darwin," said Franzen, a professor of mathematics who has taught at Oregon State University and the University of Portland.

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