"THE MORE THINGS CHANGE"
When considering the numerous dissertations on a heliocentric universe, written from the days of Aristarchus of Samos to those of Copernicus, one is struck by the fact that, for obvious reasons, few, if any, of these thinkers, nascent scientists, and philosophers ever found it necessary to ask a Roman Pope whether or not they were allowed to use their brains to think about the matter, and/or whether or not writing down and circulating (publishing) their thoughts and works were "permissible" activities. And thus, the basic truths of our heliocentric universe were preserved intact, and were available to Galileo Galilei, for his work in confirming their reality.
Unfortunately, however, Galileo found himself constrained to ask permission from the then reigning Roman Pope, both to think about the matter, and to utilize the primitive form of telescope he was able to create to aid his work; as well as to circulate (publish) his findings for others to build upon. As one of the outstanding examples of the triumph of superstitions ignorance and stubborn stupidity in human history, the Roman Pope being - as was then, and still is, customary - a totally ignorant and superstitious religionist, ultimately ruled that Galileo had violated the tenets of Roman Faith; was thus wrong in both his original thought and subsequent conclusions; and was to be punished by being forbidden to ever speak, write, or otherwise express himself on the subject in the future..
Today, some nearly 600 years later, the Roman Religion has yet to reverse the Papal findings against Galileo, and the Papal repudiation of the truth and reality of a heliocentric universe. Yet, the Roman Religion claims "moral authority" throughout the world, together with a fantastic and fabulous claim to having "infallibility" lodged in the person of the current holder of the Papal Office. Indeed, the current Pope (Josef Ratzinger, who calls himself, "Benedict XVI") has stated, publicly, that in his view, the actions, and findings of the Inquisition concerning Galileo were "perfectly correct"; thus leaving us with the question as to whether or not, by some form of weird and wonderful magical intervention, the reality of all creation has been fixed in terms of Roman superstition. And, whether or not, contrary to every aspect of science, we must all believe, as "necessary to Salvation", that the earth really is flat, and the center of the Universe, with everything else revolving around it.
One might want to bring to mind Charles Lutwidge Dodgson's Red Queen - the one who has "learned to believe at least six impossible things before breakfast" - when contemplating the Roman Religion's "doctrinal and/or moral" presentations, concerning conception, abortion, human rights, and much of the rest of human knowledge and understanding, as found in the world today.
Revised-11-02-09