And Yet It Does

On February 13, 1633, Galileo Galilei, the venerable Italian astronomer, physicist, and engineer, arrived in Rome to stand trial before the Roman Inquisition. This event marked a pivotal moment in the history of science, the Roman Catholic Church, and the intersection of faith and empirical evidence. The trial of Galileo remains one of the most significant episodes in the conflict between science and religion, a narrative that has shaped centuries of discourse on the nature of truth.

The trial was primarily rooted in Galileo’s support for the Copernican system, which posited that the Earth and other planets orbit the Sun. This heliocentric model was in direct contradiction to the geocentric view, which held the Earth as the universe’s center, a perspective endorsed by the Church based on its interpretation of Scripture.

Galileo faced several accusations, but the crux of the Inquisition’s case against him was his alleged violation of a 1616 edict. This decree had explicitly forbidden him from holding, teaching, or defending the heliocentric theory. His continued advocacy, especially through his writings, was seen as a direct challenge to Church authority and doctrine.

The Church’s arguments against Galileo were fundamentally theological. Authorities argued that the heliocentric theory contradicted several passages of Scripture, such as Joshua 10:13, where the Sun is commanded to stand still, implying it normally moved around the Earth. This literal interpretation of the Bible was used to refute Galileo’s scientific findings, advocating a geocentric model as a matter of faith and doctrine.

Galileo’s initial interaction with the Church authorities in 1616 was a warning rather than a formal trial. He was admonished not to support or propagate the heliocentric theory. This meeting set the stage for the later trial, highlighting the Church’s intent to suppress what it deemed heretical teachings.

The 1616 judgment was essentially a prelude to the 1633 trial. It concluded with an injunction against Galileo, prohibiting him from endorsing Copernicanism. While not a trial per se, this judgment significantly impacted Galileo’s life and work, forcing him into a position of compliance—at least outwardly.

In the wake of the trial, the Inquisition banned several of Galileo’s works. Most notably, his “Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems” was prohibited. This book was a critical element of the trial, as it presented arguments for both the heliocentric and geocentric models but was perceived to favor the former, in violation of the 1616 edict.

Galileo’s “Dialogue” is a foundational scientific text that examines the Copernican system through a series of discussions between three characters: Salviati (who presents Galileo’s views), Sagredo (the neutral observer), and Simplicio (the defender of Ptolemaic geocentrism). The book was seen as an attempt to subvert Church teachings under the guise of a theoretical discussion.

The second trial in 1633 centered on Galileo’s “Dialogue.” The Inquisition found that the publication violated the 1616 decree by advocating heliocentrism. Galileo was forced to recant his views and was found “vehemently suspect of heresy,” leading to his sentence of house arrest, which he remained under for the rest of his life.

Although popularly thought to have been imprisoned in a dungeon, Galileo’s “imprisonment” was actually confinement to his villa in Arcetri, near Florence. Here, despite his physical isolation and the censure of his ideas, he continued his research and writing until his death in 1642.

The trial of Galileo is often cited as a key moment in the conflict between science and religion. Its legacy is complex, reflecting both the challenges of reconciling empirical evidence with faith and the eventual acceptance of scientific truths by religious institutions. The Catholic Church has since revisited Galileo’s condemnation, culminating in Pope John Paul II’s 1992 declaration that the Church’s ruling against Galileo was an error resulting from “tragic mutual incomprehension.”

The trial underscored the importance of freedom of inquiry and the need for dialogue between the realms of science and religion. Galileo’s perseverance in the face of adversity and his unwavering commitment to the pursuit of knowledge remain enduring inspirations for scientists and advocates of intellectual freedom worldwide.