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Susan, the quotation is often placed at Galileo's door but, from my reading, should be attributed to a Cardinal Baronis and read "Scripture teaches how to go . . . ". Don't worry, tis but a minor matter. What is (or wasn't) a minor matter was that at the time of Galileo's self aggrandisement within the corridors of power, 'the church' had kept itself apart from scientific pondering and, officially at any rate, expressed no view on the various theories of the universe (Ptolemaic, Arestotalian, Copernican or otherwise). Somehow or other Galileo managed to change that.
It seems that Galileo was a great believer in 'the church' and, possibly because of that, wished it to accept his own views and include them in its credo. The odd thing is that he managed to get the current Pope offside. That Pope was Urban VIII, previously Cardinal Barberini, a man with whom Galileo had been friends and often sat and discussed all things deep and meaningful. Why this relationship changed I have no idea.
Galileo's downfall seems to come from something of a 'kangaroo court' hearing. Even though his writings had been examined time and time again - and passed by 'the church' censors - he was designated persona non grata and confined to quarters.
It's all well and good to look back on those times and criticise the views and conclusions drawn, whether by the clergy or scientists - but it's unfair to do so. As far as I am concerned it is the same as attacking any theory or postulate expressed today regarding 'dark matter' (which I prefer to call 'the missing mass') or its mate in expansion 'dark energy'.
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