I think today the church faces a very real challenge in not repeating the errors of the past, in sort of a stand off, a fear of science.

I can't see for the life of me how an attempt to understand the universe, which I believe comes from God, can alienate us from God.

My answer to someone who is in contrast with me - by not seeing God in the scientific data - is that you don't see God in the scientific data because you're not me. I have other experiences than you have, that bring me to look at this data as enriching my experience of God.

I don't use scientific data as a foundation for believing in God - I use it as an enrichment of my knowledge of God.

The technological overflow from scientific research has brought scientific research this bad name about carrying an irresponsibility and an alienation from God - because scientific research has led to things like the atom bomb, it's led to problems with depletion of ozone in the Earth's atmosphere, or at least it's revealed those problems.

If I have a fundamental belief that the universe is created by God, then I also come to the belief that that universe reflects God, it gives me some knowledge of Him. Obviously, therefore, the more I know of the universe is, the more enriched my limited knowledge of God is.

Being a scientist helps to support both my life as a Jesuit and my belief in God.