William R. Stoeger
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William R. Stoeger SJ[1] (October 5, 1943 – March 24, 2014) was an American astronomer and theologian.
Biography
William Stoeger was born on October 5, 1943, at Torrance Memorial Hospital in Torrance, California.[2] His father was named Richard Q. Stoeger. William went to high school at Bishop Montgomery High School in Torrance, California and received a bachelor's degree in philosophy at Spring Hill College in Mobile Alabama and a master's in physics at UCLA.
Before studying at Cambridge, he studied theology at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley.[3] He was a staff scientist for the Vatican Observatory Research Group Vatican Observatory[2] in Tucson, specializing in theoretical cosmology, high-energy astrophysics, and interdisciplinary studies relating to science, philosophy and theology.
Fr. Stoeger was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1972. He and his brother, John D. were ordained together. Fr Stoeger earned his Ph.D. in astrophysics in 1976 at Cambridge University, where he was a student of the Astronomer Royal, Baron Martin Rees, and a classmate of Stephen Hawking. He worked on staff at the Vatican Observatory in Tucson from 1979 until his death on March 24, 2014.[4]
The asteroid 551878 Stoeger is named after him.[5]
Selected works
- Physics and Cosmology: Scientific Perspectives on the Problem of Natural Evil co-edited with Nancey Murphy and Robert John Russell, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2008, ISBN 88-209-7959-4, 400 pages
- Evolution and Emergence: Systems, Organisms, Persons, co-edited with Nancey Murphy, Oxford University Press, 2007, ISBN 0-19-920471-3, 360 pages
- John Paul II on Science and Religion: Reflections on the New View from Rome co-edited with Robert J. Russell, George V. Coyne, and Pope John Paul II, Vatican Observatory Publications, 1990, ISBN 0-268-01209-1, 122 pages
- Physics, Philosophy, and Theology: A Common Quest for Understanding co-edited with Robert J. Russell and G. V. Coyne, Vatican Observatory, 1988, ISBN 0-268-01576-7, 419 pages
- The Laws of Nature, the Range of Human Knowledge and Divine Action, William R. Stoeger, Biblos, 1996, ISBN 83-85380-94-9, 116 pages
- An Investigation of Crossed-calcite Plate Measures in Cygnus II co-authored with Patrick J. Treanor, Specola vaticana, 1976, 7 pages
See also
References
- ^ Russell, Robert John (2014), "Robert John Russell (2014) William R. Stoeger, SJ (1943–2014): Physicist, Cosmologist, Friend, and Leader in Theology and Science", Theology and Science, 12 (4): 293–295, doi:10.1080/14746700.2014.954392
- ^ a b William R. Stoeger, S.J., Vatican Observatory, archived from the original on May 8, 2014
- ^ Two Brothers Enter Jesuit Priesthood, Independent Press-Telegram (Long Breach, California) June 24, 1972, page 10, accessed April 24, 2017
- ^ Peter Hess, "An Astronomer for God: William R. Stoeger (1943-2014)", National Center for Science Education, May 6, 2014,
- ^ Macke, Robert (February 11, 2023). "Latest Batch of Named Asteroids Includes Three Jesuit Astronomers and a Pope". Vatican Observatory. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
External links
- Review by Stoeger of the David Toolan's At Home in the Cosmos (Orbis Books, 2003)