“In conclusion it is most definitely true that the Galileo case could have been handled better, but the fact is that Galileo is not altogether blameless. Furthermore his personality was noted to be quite rude in general.”
Handled better as in butt out completely. The Church as a civil government was a nightmare that resembled nothing Christ like. When in hell did they get the idea that they could arrest and try people? Utterly unchristian insanity.
So yes, Galileo was blameless. He should have been left alone. Of the church didn’t like his work, his terminology, or his conclusions, the MORAL course for them was to ignore it, forbid it in the church, publish their own opinions, etc. If he says bible verses need change in light of a heliocentric view, the Roman Church had the same options.
And he was “rude”? He should have been. An illegitimate government, ignoring the rights of the individual, and making demands they have no right to, should always be given the finger.
Ill wait now for the legalistic “explanation” that the Vatican wasn’t the government, and is blameless because it would be merely turning him over to the civil government for punishment. But that’s simply intellectually dishonest to blame the ones who do the dirty work.
Did you read the article? The astronomical research of Copernicus, who was writing books regarding heliocentrism at the same time as Galileo, was funded by several Cardinals. Copernicus even dedicated one of his books on heliocentricity to Pope Paul III, because he felt that the pope might protect him from antagonistic Protestant astronomers, and even Luther himself.
Galileo's "proofs" for heliocentrism were wrong. They were erroneous. He had the correct answer, but no scientific evidence to support his claim. Today, we would classify Galileo's claim as a "theory," which is what the Church did. But Galileo demanded that the Church declare his theory to be fact.