Catholic church vs. science

[jswranch]

I need a list of contributions by Catholic religious to science. I believe the founders of the big bang theory and basic genetics were catholic priests. Is there not a bigger ist.

[Dreamweaver]

Gregor Mendel, who formulated modern Mendelian genetics (by studying pea plants), was an Austrian monk. I remember that one of the earliest microbiologists was a priest, [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athanasius_Kircher"]Athanasius Kircher[/url], who studied bacteria under an early microscope. Alexander Fleming, who discovered penicillin, was also Catholic. Louis Pasteur, one of the biggest names in microbiology, was...you guessed it, Catholic!

Here's some links with even more Catholic scientists
[url="http://mafg.home.isp-direct.com/mcf/mcfc014a.htm"]Some Catholic Scientists[/url]
[url="http://www.adherents.com/adh_influ.html"]Religion of History's 100 Most Influential People[/url]
[url="http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/science.html"]Why Catholics Like Einstein[/url] from Crisis magazine

[jswranch]

Thanks, u the man. I will include these in my letter to the editor.

[KatS]

The first man who came up with the idea of the Big Bang (he referred to it as "the first day" or "the day without a yesterday") was a French priest and his last name was LaMaitre. I don't remember much else though. Good luck!

[jswranch]

[url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?s=&showtopic=53801&view=findpost&p=1008329"][u]Thread and letter to the editor moved here[/u].[/url]

Prompt responses needed

Edited June 19, 2006 by jswranch

[DannyBoy]

Lest we forget, "Jesuit Powder", now known as quinine. Quinine is an additive often found in seltzer or tonic waters. It is a known treatment and preventative agent of the effects of malaria.

From Wikipedia:

Quinine was first used to treat malaria in Rome in 1631. During the 1600s, malaria was endemic to the swamps and marshes surrounding the city of Rome. Over time, malaria was responsible for the death of several Catholic Popes, many Cardinals, and countless common citizens of Rome. Most of the priests trained in Rome had seen malaria victims, and were familiar with the shivering brought on by the cold phase of the disease. In addition to its anti-malarial properties, quinine is an effective muscle relaxant, long used by the Quechua Indians of Peru to halt shivering brought on by cold temperatures. [b]The Jesuit priest Agostino Salumbrino, an apothecary by training who lived in Lima, observed the Quechua using the quinine-containing bark of the cinchoa tree for that purpose. While its effect in treating malaria (and hence malaria-induced shivering) was entirely unrelated to its effect in controlling shivering from cold, it was still the correct medicine for malaria. At the first opportunity, he sent a small quantity to Rome to test in treating malaria.[/b] In the years that followed, cinchona bark became one of the most valuable commodities shipped from Peru to Europe.

See, the Jesuits have made positive contributions throughout history as well.