The dialog between rationality and religion, Pope Benedict XVI from Bavaria says, is to be a primary focus of his tenure at the Vatican. The Roman Catholic Church, still smarting from a dispute with that fellow Galileo about 400 years ago, is eager to seem forward-looking or at least open to alternative viewpoints. Still, it is a bit surprising to read of the Pope's official astronomer, Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes, telling an Italian newspaper this week that alien life forms should be seen as children of God. To do otherwise would be putting limits on God's creative freedom, Funes says.

What if the aliens are not Christians but of another religious persuasion, say Jewish or Scientologist? wonders Gawker's new science fiction blog. That would be embarrasing.