[asa] Vatican Astronomer

To all:

I received a copy of this letter to the astronomy community from the
new director of the Vatican Observatory that was posted to another
listserve. This seems to counter some of the more dire
interpretations of the retirement of Coyne.

Keith

---------------------------- Original Message
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Subject: New Director of the Vatican Observatory
From: José G. Funes, S.J.Date: Sun, August 27, 2006 1:36 pm
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Hello everyone,
Probably you may have learned that I have been appointed new Director of
the Vatican Observatory. At the time of the appointment, I was
participating in the IAU General Assembly in Prague and George Coyne was
taking a very well deserved vacation. I've talked to George on the phone
and we both agreed that I would send a message making the "official
announcement".

Unfortunately, The Daily Mail has published an article entitled "Pope
Sacks Astronomer Over Evolution Debate". This article is absolutely
false.

In May, after 28 years, George asked our superiors if they didn't
think it
was time for the Vatican Observatory to select a new director and they
agreed to accept his resignation as well as appoint a new director.
George
will take a year's sabbatical in Raleigh, N.C., before rejoining the
Vatican Observatory in September 2007. He continues to direct the
Vatican
Observatory Foundation.

All the staff are most grateful to George for his years of inspired
directorship. Personally, I am very happy that George Coyne will
continue as President of the Vatican Observatory Foundation and that
after
the sabbatical year he will be back with the Vatican Observatory. We
need
George back. I am also quite pleased and happy with the full support
that
I have from all the staff, included George.

The Vatican Observatory I "receive" is in very good shape. We enjoy
being
at Steward Observatory and I hope that we continue this very fruitful
collaboration.

Finally, I would like to say that we, at the Vatican Observatory, we try
hard to keep up with the pace of the most recent astronomical
developments. Since last week we now have two categories of
directors; the
giant, classic directors and the “dwarf” ones. George Coyne belongs
to the
first category and the current director... literally belongs to the
second one.

Jose Funes, S.J.

-- 
José G. Funes, S.J.
Specola Vaticana
Vatican Observatory
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