Hawking and the Vatican

Hawking follows universal riddle to Beijing hall:

At an hour-long lecture last week at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Dr Hawking said the late Pope John Paul II once told scientists they should not study the beginning of the universe because it was the work of God.

And the Vatican responds:

Said [spokesman] Donohue: "There is a monumental difference between saying that there are certain questions that science cannot answer” which is what the Pope said - and authoritarian pronouncements warning scientists to back off.

Catholic League: Hawking Wrong About Pope.