Question

What best describes the Catholic Church's reaction to Galileo's defense of Copernican ideas?

a. The church condemned Galileo as a heretic and had him burnt at the stake
b. The church brought Galileo before the Inquisition and forced him to recant his beliefs
c. The church first condemned Galileo's beliefs but then accepted them just before his death
d. The church condemned Galileo and banned all scientific scholarship

Answer 1

b. The church brought Galileo before the Inquisition and forced him to recant his beliefs

Step-by-step explanation:

Galileo Galilei was an Italian astronomer and scientist who was a strong advocate for the Copernican view that the Earth and other planets revolve around the Sun, rather than the traditional view that the Earth is the center of the universe. This view was considered heretical by the Catholic Church, which adhered to the traditional geocentric model. In 1633, the church brought Galileo before the Inquisition and charged him with holding and teaching the belief in the Copernican model. He was found guilty and was required to recant his beliefs. However, he was not burned at the stake or subjected to any other severe physical punishment. He was placed under house arrest for the rest of his life.