Would you like to comment on both the strengths and weaknesses of the Mission Statement written for the whole Society by the Jesuits gathered at Chennai, India?

Br Guy Consolmagno, SJ

Well, the English grammar is dreadful (in spite of my efforts to change it), which weakens it terribly. And it does read like a statement written by committee (which it clearly is). But the fact that it exists at all is a minor miracle, and I think properly translated into something that is grammatically correct in some language would help to improve it.

The important message in the statement is the idea that doing science is a "faith-and-justice" issue, which is both very true and very much a surprise to a lot of people, I suspect.

The important point NOT in the statement, which did come up several times at the Chennai meeting, was a mission idea aimed not at outsiders but at we scientists ourselves, namely what sort of science should we be pursuing? The notion of "orphan science" -- important but unglamorous work which no one else is being funded to do -- was one that a lot of us appreciated hearing about.

"Orphan Science" was a good description of a lot of the taxonomy work being done by our brothers in India, for instance. Further discussion of what orphan science is, and how and why one does it, would be an interesting topic to pursue.

For instance: One of the reasons to have Jesuits do science is to remind the world of the close link between science and a love of God and creation; and "orphan" science like taxonomy is the very sort of stuff that will continue to have a very visible, oft-quoted, impact for years or even centuries after it is done.

Another notion to pursue: doing science that is high-risk, high-payoff in the sense of chasing ideas that may or may not work out in the long run... the sort of thing that doesn't get grant money easily, but which is pursued merely because it is a path where we are driven by our curiousity.

Which reminds me, important reason for Jesuits to do science is as a witness to our fellow scientists against the perils of "careerism" and to remind them that this science is supposed to be fun!

Yes, I have a lot to say on this topic, and I do wish I could be at the meeting. Maybe I should write a book instead!

Anyway, know that my thoughts and prayers are with you at the gathering. If you have a call for papers or abstracts, I might be able to contribute (perhaps with someone who will be there, as a co-author?)

Guy Consolmagno, SJ
Vatican Observatory - Specola Vaticana
V-00120 Cittá del Vaticano
Italy

Fr. Charles L. Currie, S.J.

I think it is is a good statement, although I have not have a grat deal of time to study it.

Charles Currie, SJ
President, AJCU

Fr. Agustín Udías, S.J.

The statement is a very good idea and in general addresses what we as Jesuits in science feel regarding our mission. Some aspects that I think may be missing are the following:

1. The actual version seems to me too general. It can applied to any Jesuit working in any field. I think the statement must address the specific character of a Jesuit working in science.
2. I think that first of all the statement must state the influence of science in society today. This must be acknowledged, since it is the basis of the work of a jesuit in science. Science and technology are today the greatest factor in shaping our society. Our presence in the scientific world is needed if we want to understand our society and preach the Gospel in it. .
3. I don't think we all experience the world as a broken world. I am not sure what is meant by that. More important is the awareness that science and technology are not applied to solve the urgent human problems and its results are not shared equally by all men. On the contrary, actually, they contribute to increase the differences among developed and developing countries. Thus, science contributes in a great measure to an unjust world. I prefer to talk of an unjust world, rather than of a broken world.
4. I missed in the statement the ecclesiatic dimension. Jesuit presence in science is a contribution to a much needed presence of the Church in the scientific world and to an also needed presence of science in the Church. Strangement of the Church from science leads to its alienation and isolation from todays world.
5. I think that we are now in a very crucial moment regarding the work of Jesuits in science wich is requiring something like a new paradigm which justifies this presence. This paradigm must contemplate the role of science in our society and the inculturation and dialogue of the Christian message with the modern scientific and technological world.

Agustin Udias, SJ
(you can download a writing from Fr Udias regarding the paradigms of the motivations for the presence of jesuits in science from here, PDF format, or here, MSWord (tm) format. )