Cardinal schonborn evolution new york times
You're likely referring to the controversy surrounding Cardinal Christoph Schönborn's op-ed piece in The New York Times on June 7, 2005, titled "Finding Design in Nature".
In the article, Cardinal Schönborn, the Archbishop of Vienna and a prominent Catholic theologian, argued that the concept of intelligent design (ID) was not incompatible with Catholic teaching. He wrote that while science could explain many natural phenomena, there were still many unanswered questions that suggested the existence of a designer or creator.
The article sparked a heated debate, with many scientists and secularists criticizing the Cardinal's views as anti-scientific and promoting creationism. The New York Times itself published several follow-up articles and editorials, with some arguing that the Cardinal's views were misguided and others defending his right to express his opinions.
The controversy surrounding the Cardinal's op-ed piece was significant, with many experts weighing in on the issue. Some notable responses included:
- A letter to the editor from 11 Nobel laureates in physics and biology, who argued that ID was not a scientific theory and that it was not supported by empirical evidence.
- An op-ed piece by Richard Dawkins, a prominent evolutionary biologist and atheist, who criticized the Cardinal's views as "a thinly veiled attempt to promote creationism".
- A response from the National Academy of Sciences, which stated that ID was not a scientific theory and that it was not supported by empirical evidence.
The controversy surrounding the Cardinal's op-ed piece highlighted the ongoing debate between science and religion, particularly in the context of evolution and creationism. While the Cardinal's views were not universally accepted, they also sparked important discussions about the nature of science, faith, and the relationship between the two.