Are THE POPE And Stephen Hawkins Saying The Same Thing?

 The Pope told scientists that their research can lead to knowledge of God by revealing the natural order of the universe. Stephen Hawkins, in his new book earlier this month said that the universe can and will create itself from nothing because of Law.. I believe that they are both saying the same thing.. They are both talking about the Natural Laws of the Universe.
    . . . June

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Pope says science can unite humans with God

The Christian Century:

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI told scientists that their research can lead to knowledge of God by revealing the natural order of the universe.

The pope made his remarks on Thursday (Oct. 28) before a plenary session of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences at the Vatican.

The evident logic governing the universe 'leads us to admit the existence of an all-powerful Reason, which is other than that of man, and which sustains the world,' Benedict said.

"This is the meeting point between the natural sciences and religion," the pope said. "As a result, science becomes a place of dialogue, a meeting between man and nature and, potentially, even between man and his Creator."

The academy is a group of 80 eminent scientists, including more than two dozen Nobel laureates, who promote research into natural science and related philosophical issues. Membership is without regard to religious affiliation.

One of the academy's most famous members, British physicist Stephen Hawking, provoked controversy last month by arguing in a new book that the existence of the universe provides no evidence of the existence of God.

"Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing," Hawking wrote. "It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going."

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Could The VATICAN Owe 8 Billion Euros in Back Taxes?

Apparently, eight billion euros worth of tax breaks enjoyed by the Catholic Church in Italy could be in breach of European law and may have to be repaid, according to the article below. The question is whether the European Commission decides Church-run businesses should really be considered as commercial enterprises. I have to assume that if that's the case, there must be lots of other religious institutions in the same boat.
    . . . June
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Vatican May Owe €8 Billion in Back Taxes
Free Market Mojo:

Eight billion euros worth of tax breaks pocketed by the Catholic Church in Italy could be in breach of European law and may have to be repaid, it has emerged.

The European Commission has said that tax relief on 100,000 Italian properties enjoyed by the Holy See since 2005 was under the spotlight, after announcing an “in-depth” investigation.

A spokesperson for Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said the EC suspected the exemption amounted to state aid that was at odds with European Union law.

“These exemptions may distort competition,” he said. “Thus far, Italian authorities have not provided sufficient evidence to enable the Commission to conclude that the contested measures are justified by the principles of the Italian tax system”.

The crux is whether the EC decides Church-run businesses should really be considered as commercial enterprises and therefore liable to taxation.

If Italy is found to have violated EU subsidy laws, it will have to cancel the exemption and seek reimbursement from the church. If that happened, the financial consequences for the Catholic Church would be grave.

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