THE creation of saints is "pure Monty Python" and the Family First senator Steve Fielding is more stupid than an earthworm, says the evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins.

"I do find it very discouraging," Dr Dawkins told the 2010 Global Atheist Convention in Melbourne yesterday when asked about the support of the media and the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, for Mary MacKillop, who is to become Australia's first saint in a ceremony in Rome in October.

"The whole idea of creating saints is pure Monty Python,'' he said. ''Why do they have to clock up two miracles? These are people we are supposed to take seriously."

Dr Dawkins said he was often criticised for attacking easy targets such as Christian fundamentalists instead of serious theologians such as "Pope Nazi", a presumed reference to Pope Benedict.