When Copernicus denounced the Ptolemaic theory in 1514 and claimed the sun was the center of the universe and the Earth rotated around it, the whole world of science changed. From that moment on every theory and study about outer space was altered.

According to historical accounts, the acceptance of the change was overnight, but I’m skeptical. Evolution has been a proven theory for a long time, and nearly half of us still refuse to accept it. So challenging not only the Catholic Church but Aristotle was probably hard for regular people to accept.

The Vatican ruled the people and controlled politics in those days, so no one else had to call a press conference to denounce the findings. Glenn Beck and Andy Schlafly were unnecessary.

It was 30 years before Copernicus got the courage to publish his theory, and even then he was timid in his pronouncements. He was after all a devout Catholic himself and had no intention of challenging Biblical theory.

Sixty five years after he finally stated emphatically the solar system was as we routinely believe these days, the Inquisition declared it false and ordered everyone to quit saying such. Galileo refused to comply and was imprisoned for life. Some of his compatriots were boiled in oil.

Today’s Catholic Church seems a lot more pliable about the universe. A Vatican organization called the Pontifical Academy of Sciences is studying the impact of the sheer number of stars in the heavens and the possibility that there is other life out there.

Imagine. The same folks who have denied almost every scientific discovery since Leonardo da Vinci was a little boy and still think the printing press was an evil thing, are suddenly scanning the night sky searching for ET.

So far they haven’t actually discovered anything significant, and no one is sure how they might handle the investigation. The Vatican has enough money to start an independent space program if they choose and there are plenty of scientists, engineers, and stargazers who are devout Catholics and would love to be involved.

Those skeptics among us might worry about restrictions. Is this really a search for knowledge in the great unknown or a clandestine attempt to save face in a changing world. The Vatican has a history of manipulating current events to their own benefit and admitting there might be beings other than us raises many possibilities.

Organized religion has always straddled the line between ancient traditions and current events. It is extremely hard to balance several thousands years of science, history, and logic with three or four decades of personal experience.

We are forced to put a current spin on anything we believe because there is nothing to compare. Every religion that exists today has made changes to placate the changing lifestyles of believers. So Catholicism is no different than any other group in this aspect.

One thing is already assured. If the folks in Rome don’t do something soon, the barn door will be open and it might be too late. If Dan Brown and Tom Hanks get involved, there is no telling what future generations might believe.