Why did the Roman Catholic Church opose the ideas of Galileo?
Galileo was not able to give conclusive proof of his theory when he was questioned on it. His theory seemed to contradict certain passages of Scripture that referred to the sun as ceasing to go around the earth at the command of Joshua. This verse was taken in a literal and scientific sense at the time and was not seen as just being written from the perspective of an observer. The Church condemned his teaching unless conclusive proof for his theory could be found. Galileo promised to stop teaching it, but almost immediately broke his promise. He was not tortured, however, or imprisoned in a dungeon of any kind. He was instead placed under house arrest in the luxurious apartment of an officer of the Inquisition for 22 days and was then allowed to stay at the houses of his well-off friends. This sentence was for his defiance.
