Turns out that the the late Pope John Paul II didn't want scientists to study the beginning of the universe:
Hawking, who didn't say when the meeting was held, quoted the pope as saying, "It's OK to study the universe and where it began. But we should not enquire into the beginning itelf because that was the moment of creation and the work of God."
Thank goodness we are still clinging to a republic rather than the theocracy so many crave.
http://www.nwfdailynews.com/articleA...awkingpope.php