Imagine the Vatican with a statue of Galileo

That would be a conversation starter.

Word has leaked out in the Italian press that an anonymous benefactor has commissioned such a statue.

Which begs the question….what is the real relationship between the Church and Galileo? And extending that thought further….the relationship between faith and science.

Public misunderstanding of the whole Galileo affair has become reality. But it’s not reality.

Galileo had many admirers but also lots of enemies. A difficult character, he savaged his critics in print and managed to alienate even his defenders. His personal life also raised eyebrows. He fathered three children out of wedlock.

Summoned to Rome to explain his heliocentric heresy, he eventually agreed to plead guilty to “suspicion of heresy” in exchange for a lighter punishment. Pope Urban VIII, whom he once considered a friend, denounced his “very false and very erroneous” ideas.

So, did the Church torture Galileo? No.

In fact, he served out most of his sentence at the villas of Tuscan noblemen. Toward the end of his life, he was allowed to attend Mass again — on condition that he not mingle with other congregants. Some church historians say Galileo’s actions should be classified as heterodoxy, which is less severe than heresy.

Not long ago, Ignatius Press published Pope Benedict XVI’s book Creation and Evolution in English. It’s challenging and provocative. Especially for people who benefit from believing the Church rejects science.

This, from the introduction, quotes the pope as Cardinal Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

In no case should the appearance of a new dispute between natural science and faith be created, because in fact that is not at all what this dialogue is about. The real level of discourse is that of philosophical thought: when natural science becomes a philosophy, it is up to philosophy to grapple with it. Only in that way is the contentious issue framed correctly; only then does it remain clear what we are dealing with: a rational, philosophical debate that aims at the objectivity of rational knowledge, and not a protest of faith against reason.

What a great story, once people hear it.