The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1957-11-22
msnts of the Popes ~ none OF
these. ssy there cannot be life
other than on earth" he said.

rnSse sef mere cannon De lire
other than on EARTH" he said.
''Theologians have never dared
to limit the Omnopitence of God
to the creation of the world we
know" he added.
Father Connell d,
though, that he had mo intention
of discussing the factual problem
of whether or not the flying OBJ
jects are actually space ships
from other planets"
Il am inclined to believe there
is a much more prosaic explana-
ton of their origin" he said.
But, if God did create other
rational beings. theologians can
imagine a variety of states in
which they might exist, he de-
clared.
1t could be these beings receiv-
ed from God the same supernatu-
raj and preternatural gifts given
to Adam and Eve-and never lost
them.
Thus, they might still be living
in a paradise of pleasure" such
as Genesis says Adam and Eve
enjoyed before they ate the for
hidden fruit.
They then might be intel.
l~eefusIly and physically far 81.
perior to Us, and ii would be
reasonable to suppose they
would be far ahead of 0s-
even to mastering inter-pIsne-
tary travel" he said.
Granting that they lived in a
world of enlightened intellect
and had wills adhering faithfully
to God, it can be. assumed they
would not wage war, or that they
have not even invented weapons,
he stated.
"Another possibility, however,
continued Father Cornell, lis a
world of rational beings who, like
the fallen angels, sinned against
God and were never given anoth-
er chance to be re-instated in
Gods grace"
"Such a group could be crea-
lures with keen intellects, but
with wills strongly inclined to
evil. They would, naturally, be
unlikely to bring our mankind
any good" the theoogian unused.
There are at least two other
major possibilities, according to
Father Cornell. "But all of these
are mere suggestions by theo-
logians. God may have produced
beings in a number of other diff
ferent circumstances"
ut is possible these eoniee-
fvred beings were given q 81.
pernatvrsI destiny from God
and extraordinary prefernatv.
raj gifts - and like oUr first
parents, they sinned and lost
Them"
If such might be the case, it is
possible God could have arranged
for their Redemption.
ut could be that the Second
Person of the Blessed Trinity as.
sumed the nature of rational be.
ings of another world, as we'll as
human nature on earth. Or, one
of the other Divine Persons could
have become Incarnate on anoth'
er planet" he said.
Another major possibility, he
said, is that these beings "could
have been created in a purely
natural state, without any super
natural or preternatural gifts and
with merely a natural, but eter-
nal destiny"
In other words, he explained,
they would have been destined
after death TO . purely natural
happiness for all eternity, but
without the possibility Of see
ing God. Their con dition
would have been similar to that
now given infants who die
without Baptism"
They could be moral and some.
what similar to inhabitants OF
earth, but without any means OF
supernatural grace. "Their intel.
lect might be more perfect or less
perfect than ours" he said.
Father Connell pointed out
that theologians have speculateo
on the problem of life on other
planets long before "flying sau
GERS" and talk of realizing inter
planetary travel.
"More than 70 years ago, the
question was discussed by Father
Angelo Secchi, famous Italian
Jesuit astronomer, and Father
Jacques Monasbre, a French
Dominican orator. Both admitted
the possibility of rational crea
lures existing on another planet
he said. Numerous other theo
logians have discussed the topic
since, he added.