The Galileo The Galileo AffairAffair

One, holy, catholic and One, holy, catholic and apostolic Churchapostolic Church

Viewed as an Viewed as an intransigent morass intransigent morass that monolithically was that monolithically was against all science and against all science and knowledgeknowledge

Galileo GalileiGalileo Galilei Seen as hapless victim Seen as hapless victim

of the Roman Catholic of the Roman Catholic InquisitionInquisition

Rome:1Rome:1Galileo: 0Galileo: 0

However…However…

The actual history of the Galileo The actual history of the Galileo Affair is much more nuanced and Affair is much more nuanced and intriguing.intriguing.

It was an intersection of religion, It was an intersection of religion, science, politics, personality; which science, politics, personality; which resulted in one of the more resulted in one of the more historically embarrassing moments historically embarrassing moments for the Church.for the Church.

For 3 years For 3 years (1589-1592) (1589-1592) Galileo is a Galileo is a professor of professor of mathematics mathematics at the at the University of University of PisaPisa

In 1604, now a In 1604, now a professor in Padua, professor in Padua, Italy, Galileo Italy, Galileo observes a observes a supernovasupernova

He then formulates He then formulates lectures stating lectures stating that the star is that the star is beyond the moon, beyond the moon, and thus there are and thus there are changes in the changes in the heavens.heavens.

In 1609/10 Galileo In 1609/10 Galileo hears about a new hears about a new invention- the invention- the telescope.telescope.

He creates one of He creates one of his own, and his own, and begins observing begins observing the solar system.the solar system.

He is able to see the moons of Jupiter He is able to see the moons of Jupiter orbiting the planetorbiting the planet

He observes that Venus goes through He observes that Venus goes through phases like the moon. This went phases like the moon. This went against the prevailing thought of the against the prevailing thought of the timetime

Now the “Fun” BeginsNow the “Fun” Begins

The prevailing thought at the time The prevailing thought at the time was that the earth was the center of was that the earth was the center of the universe and it did not move.the universe and it did not move. Belief based on ancient Greeks Ptolemy Belief based on ancient Greeks Ptolemy

and Aristotleand Aristotle The interpretation of Scripture and The interpretation of Scripture and

Tradition within ChristianityTradition within Christianity

CopernicusCopernicus

The minority opinion at the time was The minority opinion at the time was that the sun was the center, and that that the sun was the center, and that it, not the earth, was immobile. it, not the earth, was immobile.

This theory is credited to Copernicus, This theory is credited to Copernicus, and was supported by Galileo.and was supported by Galileo.

……and it ended up being correct!!and it ended up being correct!!

The Catholic Church Agrees With The Catholic Church Agrees With Galileo…sort ofGalileo…sort of

In 1611, at the In 1611, at the request of request of Cardinal Cardinal Bellarmine, the Bellarmine, the Collegio RomanoCollegio Romano certified Galileo’s certified Galileo’s discoveries…but discoveries…but NOT his NOT his interpretations.interpretations.

Later in 1611Later in 1611

At a dinner party, At a dinner party, Galileo engages in Galileo engages in a debate…and he a debate…and he is supported by is supported by Cardinal BarbariniCardinal Barbarini

Cardinal Barbarini Cardinal Barbarini later becomes later becomes Pope Urban VIIIPope Urban VIII

Other Catholics Also Somewhat Other Catholics Also Somewhat support Galileosupport Galileo

Carmelite Friar Paolo Antonio Carmelite Friar Paolo Antonio Foscarini published Letter on the Foscarini published Letter on the Pythagorean and Copernican Opinion Pythagorean and Copernican Opinion of the Earth's Motion and Sun's Rest of the Earth's Motion and Sun's Rest

In this book, Foscarini argues that In this book, Foscarini argues that the Copernican theory is compatible the Copernican theory is compatible with Scripture. with Scripture.

Still Others…not so muchStill Others…not so much

Not everyone in the Catholic Church is Not everyone in the Catholic Church is happy with Galileo.happy with Galileo.

Dominican friar Tommaso Caccini went to Dominican friar Tommaso Caccini went to Florence in December 1614 to preach Florence in December 1614 to preach against the “heretical” Copernican world against the “heretical” Copernican world view…he was later forced to apologizeview…he was later forced to apologize

Another Dominican, Niccolo Lorini filed a Another Dominican, Niccolo Lorini filed a complaint with the Inquisition against complaint with the Inquisition against Galileo…the Inquisition did nothing at that Galileo…the Inquisition did nothing at that time.time.

In 1625 a complaint against Galileo's In 1625 a complaint against Galileo's publication publication The AssayerThe Assayer is lodged at  is lodged at the Inquisition. the Inquisition.

The complaint charges that the The complaint charges that the theory embraced in the book cannot theory embraced in the book cannot be reconciled with the official church be reconciled with the official church doctrine regarding the Eucharist.doctrine regarding the Eucharist.

After an investigation by the After an investigation by the Inquisition, Galileo is cleared.Inquisition, Galileo is cleared.

In 1623, Cardinal In 1623, Cardinal Barbarini, a friend Barbarini, a friend and patron of and patron of Galileo, is elected Galileo, is elected Pope.Pope.

Pope Urban VIII Pope Urban VIII bestowed a bestowed a pension on both pension on both Galileo and his Galileo and his son.son.

Permission GrantedPermission Granted

Galileo has several audiences with Galileo has several audiences with Pope Urban VIII, where the Pope tells Pope Urban VIII, where the Pope tells him he can write about the him he can write about the Copernican theory, as long as he Copernican theory, as long as he treats it as a mathematical treats it as a mathematical hypothesis, not as fact.hypothesis, not as fact.

Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World SystemsWorld Systems

In April 1630 Galileo finished his In April 1630 Galileo finished his book, book, Dialogue Concerning the Two Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World SystemsChief World Systems. .

By June 1630 he had conditional By June 1630 he had conditional permission to print his book from the permission to print his book from the VaticanVatican

Permission DeniedPermission Denied

In February 1632 Galileo had the In February 1632 Galileo had the book printed.book printed.

By that summer Pope Urban VIII has By that summer Pope Urban VIII has banned it.banned it.

By that fall the Inquisition, headed by By that fall the Inquisition, headed by the Pope himself, summoned Galileo.the Pope himself, summoned Galileo.

How Did it Get to That Point?How Did it Get to That Point?

Over the years, Galileo had made a Over the years, Galileo had made a lot of enemies.lot of enemies.

Unfortunately, he did not help Unfortunately, he did not help himself with his supporters either…himself with his supporters either…apparently he wasn’t the most apparently he wasn’t the most pleasant person.pleasant person.

It also didn’t help implying the Pope It also didn’t help implying the Pope (who was his benefactor) was an (who was his benefactor) was an idiot in his book.idiot in his book.

So What Became of Galileo?So What Became of Galileo?

No, he was not tortured or killedNo, he was not tortured or killed He was found guilty of violating an order…He was found guilty of violating an order…

which he probably never knew about.which he probably never knew about. The Church stops just short of outright The Church stops just short of outright

calling him a heretic, rather he is judged to calling him a heretic, rather he is judged to be “vehemently suspected of heresy”.be “vehemently suspected of heresy”.

A compromise is reached where he agrees A compromise is reached where he agrees to recant, and the Church sends him home to recant, and the Church sends him home for the remainder of his life.for the remainder of his life.

What Became of the Catholic What Became of the Catholic Church?Church?

While many in the Catholic Church While many in the Catholic Church considered Galileo’s works heretical, considered Galileo’s works heretical, that was never an that was never an officialofficial position. position.

In 1741, Pope Benedict XIV granted In 1741, Pope Benedict XIV granted an an imprimaturimprimatur “seal of approval” to “seal of approval” to the complete works of Galileothe complete works of Galileo