Just what might one of the world’s great atheist scientists and philosophers have in common with the Church? Quite a lot, as became clear when Noam Chomsky addressed a Vatican foundation that aims to promote dialogue between science and religion On the face of it, Noam Chomsky and the Catholic Church seem unlikely bedfellows. Chomsky is considered by many to have been one of the twentieth century’s pioneering linguists, but is probably better-known to the wider public as a left-wing political activist and critic of the rich and powerful, whoever they may be. He has described himself as “a child of the Enlightenment”, and has called religion “irrational” and “dangerous”.A few days ago, however, he found considerable common ground with the Ch