Speaking out

I have often complained about the relative silence among Islamic leaders regarding mass murder that is committed in the name of their religion. I have also complained about the silence among Christian leaders about attacks on science in the name of their religion. With that preface, I find this story heartening.

VATICAN CITY — A Vatican (search) cardinal said Thursday the faithful should listen to what secular modern science has to offer, warning that religion risks turning into "fundamentalism" if it ignores scientific reason.

Cardinal Paul Poupard, who heads the Pontifical Council for Culture (search), made the comments at a news conference on a Vatican project to help end the "mutual prejudice" between religion and science that has long bedeviled the Roman Catholic Church and is part of the evolution debate in the United States. . .

"[We] know the dangers of a religion that severs its links with reason and becomes prey to fundamentalism," he said.