Galileo, historical truth and infallibility

HISTORY

By Cyprian Kizito Lwanga

KAMPALA-Let me clarify something that appeared in the press last week that "an arrogant Pope Urban VII hanged scientist Galileo over the argument that the earth was round"

Galileo was condemned by the Inquisition, sentenced to prison, but almost immediately was granted house arrest.  He died of natural cause on January 8, 1642 and he was never killed by Pope Urban VII.  Galileo spent his time in confinement researching, writing, making scientific contributions and receiving many visitors.

The issue regarding Galileo was not whether the earth was round but whether we are part of a ‘heliocentric' reality (planets rotating around the sun) or "geocentric" (sun and stars rotating around the earth).

For more details, one can profitably consult the relevant and balanced articles in the Wikipedia; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_Galilei#Later_Church_reassessments

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_affair; which is not a Catholic publication.

In many ways, Galileo was a victim of the then interpretation of the Scriptures of both Catholics and Protestants, which favoured a geocentric view and did not yet recognise the reality of literary genres. This led to the reading of the creation accounts of Genesis and some of the psalms as scientific literature. It would take another two hundred years before biblical scholarship, both Catholic and Protestant, started understanding that the Holy Scriptures are not modern historical writings or physics but rather professions of faith that do not contradict science.  The last books of the bible were completed around 100 a.d.  The modern development of science began 1000 years later. There is no way the biblical authors were writing modern history or science, which did not exist in their lifetimes.

In the 1800's, the works of Galileo were removed from the list of prohibited books.  In the 20^th century, Pope Pius XII, a great promoter of the sciences, spoke of him in very positive terms.  Pope John Paul II instituted a commission of inquiry into the affair and expressed his regret at the treatment of Galileo.  The findings of that commission are published. Pope Benedict XVI also publically appreciated Galileo.

The case of Galileo helps us to understand that there are different kinds of knowledge, which are not opposed to one another, for they proceed from the same God but are legitimately explored by people asking different questions.  The Catholic Church holds that there is no contradiction between the knowledge of science and of faith.  Contradictions that appear in the course of research are to be resolved through further research and dialogue in the confidence that all knowledge has its roots in the one true God.  This often requires time and patience.

The term "infallibility" also needs to be understood and used correctly.  If one examines the case of Galileo, there is in fact no question of infallibility.  Galileo was being tried by ecclesiastical tribunals, which do not make infallible pronouncements.

In political discussions, the question of infallibility does not enter into conclusions. Political decision-making is never complete.  One moves from one argument and decision to others, certainly based on principles, as more information and experiences become available.  For that reason, laws and policies evolve and are often revised.  The basic principles of Catholic Social doctrine, which are certainly shared by most people of good will, are constant and should be the basis on which political discussions are carried out.  They are the dignity of the human person, the common good, subsidiarity, and solidarity.

Furthermore, these principles are intimately linked to one another, with the dignity of the human person being at the center.  These are all in turn rooted in the Word of God and in the two thousand year history of the Church's constant teaching, with the last 150 years in the teaching of the recent Popes and the Second Vatican council, having a particular value in so far as it is directed to contemporary social questions.  They assume a doctrinal basis in the ten commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, and the constant teaching of the Church on faith and morals.  This is the body of revealed truth that the Church proposes and defends through the office of the Holy Father and the Bishops in communion with him.  This is the context for understanding the infallibility of the Pope and the Bishops in communion with him. 

The opinion of an individual cleric on a current issue cannot be called infallible though it may have important moral and doctrinal force in so far as it expresses the infallible Word of God in communion with the Holy Father and the Bishops in communion with him. Forexample, invoking the fifth commandment; "Thou shall not kill," in reference to abortion.

The Church's contribution to society lies in promoting the dignity of the human person, the common good, subsidiarity, and solidarity by encouraging dialogue and political action.  Church teaching recognises the competence of those specialised in the art of politics, who have the experience and formation needed to manage Government.  Members of the Church contribute to the political discussion by offering observations and suggestions coming from these four key areas of human experience.  Some may be professional politicians, but most are not. All are called to contribute to the dialogue that concerns the good of the nation. It is not always easy, but by patient endurance and discretion on all parts, it will bear fruit.

The writer is the Archbishop of Kampala