Scientists at the Vatican support so-called genetically modified crops but the head of the Catholic Church's science advisors has now said that the statement does not represent an official Church endorsement - only 18% of the scientists present agreed with the endorsement though, to be fair, that is many more than the 2% of astronomers who determined Pluto is not a planet.

Given the recent endorsement of condom use, where the Church is now for it unless it is against it, and subsequent clarifications, means Catholics have a crisis of communication these days.

Optimizing crops to resist drought and pests seems like the easiest and safest solution to halting food losses and helping poor people live better lives - the claim of every religion - so an endorsement without backpedaling would seem to make sense.