The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-11-22
Calico and the Inquisition.


other famous "fables of history" as we
learn from the Times, the author classes
those well known words imputed to Calico,
but still it moves" DR.. Delapierre de-
MES that the great astronomer was ever
subjected to torture. The writer in the
Times is inclined to coincide with the Doc
tor on the first of these points, SO far as the
audibility of the words goes.
Calico is described as on his knees, re-
counting some heretical opinion in relation
to the motion of the earth on its axis, and
as having, in fit of stubbornness atter
rising to his feet, stamped upon the ground,
saying, "but it moves, though" DR.. De-
lapierre has discovered that Calico never
used the words; the Times rather thinks he
muttered something to that effect which the
Inauisitors could not hear. mo doubt"
says the Times, I" this protestation OF truth
against falsehood may have rushed from
his heart to his lips, but if these words had
actually been heard, his relapse would IN
fallibly have led him to the stake"
We differ in opinion from both the Doc
tor and the Times. We think it quite pro-
bable that Calico did utter the celebrated
phrase, and that the Inquisitors heard it
quite distinctly.
There was no reason why he should not
saw it, the Times stake" to the contrary
notwithstanding. The doctrine that 1t
moves" and around its axis every day at
that, was publicly taught in Rome then,
and has been for eighty years. The Jesuit
professors were the foremost and ablest ad-
vocates of the system, and the Pope HIM
self-Urban VIII-was doubtless a firm be-
lever in it. AT that very moment when
Calico said "it moves" he was enjoying a
pension from the Pope of one hundred
crowns per annum, and had been enjoying
| it for many years, for his astronomical abll-
ity, and particularly his support of the the
DRY that it moves"
Copernicus, the father of the system, was
learned Catholic priest. He had pro-
fessorsl,ip of astronomy in Rome. For
thirty six years he withheld the publica-
ton in print of his discovery, though ans
nouncing it orally. Cardinal Schomberg
finally prevailed on him to publish his work,
and furnished the necessary means to meet
the expenses. Bishop Culm personally su-
|
dedicated to the reigning pontiff, Paul Ill.
At the date of Galileo's condemnation,
the Pope's Private Secretary, his Mathema-
tician, his Grand Chamberlain, the most
eminent of the Cardinals, were open advo-
Gates of the earth's rotary motion, while a
distinguished Jesuit, Torgnato de Cuppls, IL
the Roman college, and another in the
Popes University, the Sapienza, had previ
| ously been lecturing publicly, and perhap
were doing so at that very date in favor o
the same doctrine. In few days or week
after Galileos condemnation, the Pope ap
pointed kepler to his professOrship OF as
tronomy at Bologna, still more deter
= mined and ADLER advocate of the syster
than Galileo-and this though keplcr wa
: an inf1exible Protestant.
a Where, then, was the danger of til
"stake' in saying Git moves 2" Such
II traditional bigotry. Error, in default of a
N cnment, adopts lies. This it does in tt
lie commencement of a grand controversy, al
ct afterwards the victims of that error accel
or it's traditional calumny ard falsehood
nd sacred, and beyond the necessity of 'inve
80 tigation.
"a ~.
Calico was condemned for somethin
1t was a good opportunity for biSotry III
"a recklessness to transfer the condemnati
TO from the man to his doctrines, from his pt
we sonal errors to his scientific truth. BY Il
no means two points would be made, one
~ them damaging to the Church, the OIL
fatal First, that the Church the {
amy, of sciance and DrorrpsS SecOuQly ii
a envy Vi e'ion@' OH" pi"s7'
Dol 1t hao prociaiiheu INC hAc"''ee' WI .i' 70"
ase as a dogma of faith. This latter point bel
established, of course the infallibiHty OF
Church vanished before the clear light o
truth now admitted.