by the way, i am not much of a faith versus science person. i am interested in the clashing forces of history. and the rising power of the papacy and the emergence of secular science are both interesting studies.
it kinda seems that the galileo affair has got drawn into the discussion of the papal infallibility doctrine amongst catholics and folks who want to take a pop at catholicism. hence the effort to justify the decisions of the inquisitors.
for me that is not a part of the discussion that i am interested in. catholics wonder if their pope is infallible. i assume he is not. it's just an argument between the guy pushing the imperfect new idea and the resistance of the chaps with the old ones.
but that doesn't mean i hate a well-meaning form of religion. when it is done kindly, it is an effort to understand, to find meaning, to stand where the universe doesn't offer much friendly ground.
or as steven j gould puts it:
"To anyone who feels cosmically discouraged at the prospect of life as a detail in a vast universe not evidently designed for our presence . . . consider the much greater fascination and intellectual challenge of such a mysterious but knowable universe, compared with a "friendlier" and more familiar cosmos that only mirrors our hopes and needs."
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