The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-04-01

NAA AANfNh ~ W. hAAANNN ~ NA SIN
aud in the Vatican gardens the system
had been lcarnedly %expounded In the
very presence Of the Pontilf and the
ablest scholars OF the day, Nicholas
Cusa, who SO ably defended It, far from
being molested for his philosophical
opinions, was
CLOTHED WITH THE ROMAN PURPLE.
Another Catholic priest, Copemicus,
from whom the system has derived its
name, was also staunch advocate ofthe
theory and he, TOO, was held in the
highest estimation and consulted by tho
Pope in the prosecution OF his immortal
work-the revision and correction ofthe
Julian Calendar.
Why, then, was Calico prosecuted,
tortured, imprisoned for following in the
wake ofthGse, hisillustrious dhonored
predecessors? To this question, we re-
ply, continued the Bishop, that his i'm.
prisonment In horrid dungeons and his
torture by the InQuisition are but myths
without u shadow OF foundation. Had
he followed the example set him by
other scientists, not his interiors in any
respect, and avoided theological and
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, he would never
have been called to account by the Ro.
man authorities, for bis philosophical
theories. PROFESSIONALLY the Sacred
Scriptures seemed to expressly declare
that it Is the sun, and not tho earth,
which moYesin adiurnal circle or ellipse.
Such had been the universal interpreta-
ton given TO certain passages. Why
shouldthat Interpretation be reversed to
make the sacred pages conform toa sys.
tem'as yet undemonstrated? 1t Is well
known now that the main arguments re-,
lied on by Calico have been exploded.
Wait, advised Cardinal Bellarmine, uh.
III the, system has been
PROVEN BEYOND a REASONABLE DOUBT.
Then 1t will bs time enough to seek
for q different Interpretation Of these
scriptural texts. But Calico would
heed no such sage advice, though ten.
dered him by all his friends aud well.
wishers. He had devised his own inter.
probation in accordance with his phil.
osophical views, and he sought to force
It's acceptance upon the Roman author.
tiles. This Is what brought him to Rome
In 1915. The officials OF the ln0utsition
were loathe to have the matter brought
before them, and consented to do so
only at the repeatedl urgent and almost
insolent solicitations OF Calico himself.
Even when the Committee OF Theolo.
gians, or QudliftrS, submitted their re.
port, condemning the system as heretical,
the Cardinals who composed the Courtot
acquisitions refused to accept or act on
this report. Even had they endorsed It,
every instructed Catholic knogsthatthe
decision Of q Congregation or Pontiacal
Committee does not carry with II lie
weight. Of a dogmatic teaching. Doc
trinal decisions are issued by the Pope
directly, and not through subordinate
officials. This remark is also applicable
to the Congregation Of the Index, which
now took up the matter and plaCed on
the catalogue OF forbidden books several
works (Galileo's were not lnCluded), in
which
THE coPERNICAN SYSTEM WAS TAUGHT,
until such corrections could be made
as would show hat the system was ad.
yanced only as q philosophical hypo.
thesis. A written promise was exacted
OF Calico, requiring him also to respect
the authority OF the congregation. For
full fifteen years he devoted himself I'M
disturbed by Rome, ut least, 10 his sClen.
tiic pursuits, aud on his visit TO the
Holy City In 1924 he received d perfect
ovation from the very highest ecclesias.
tical dignitaries. The first time that he
was really ordered to present himself
before the 1nquisition was in 1892, and
the reason OF this summons was the
publication OF his Didlogo, which was in
manifest contravention OF his solemn
promise made sixteen years before. To
d%isobedlence, ho was also charged with
also adding gross insult 10 the Sovereign
Pontif, who, as Cardinal, had befriended
him, and as Pope had, as a compliment
TO and reoompense OF his brilliant scien.
titlc accomplishments, settled q hand.
some annuity on him and his family.
What defense did he set up? He has
been represented as adhering tenacious.
ly TO his system, and as subjected to tor.
ture TO extort from him a retraCtipn, and
exclalming after his retraotioni
''IT OBS MOVE"
words put into his mouth a hundred
years after his death by a witty French
writer. Had he defended his poRition,
his Judges were men OF Intelligence aud
lovers Of all the sciences, and they
would have been only too glad TO listen
10 and weigh his arguments. But thew
were dazed by his persistent denial
under bis oath, that his Didl0gO con,
talned a defenseotC opermicanism, They
were convinced that he was not telling
the truth. The very words OF both The
questions propopnded BY the Judges and
OIL the answers given by Calico have
been preserved, so that no possible
doubt can be raised as 10 bis attitude be.
fore the Ihquisltion, and that attitude
was not such as the martyr OF science
10 often credited with. We may easlly
surmlse that, II he did really tell tbe
truth, II cost him no struggle 10 re.
pudiatea system which bp penlSted In
saying DO did not hold as a demonstrated
truth Of science. lie was also required
10 tecite once q week for three years the
seven p%enltential psalms. Finally, he
was condemned 10 be imprlSonod--a
sentence requiring the Pope's annfoba.
ZION. Instead Of immurlhg him II a
ltghtiul dungeon, The Pope had him
sent TO the Palace Of the Fotehtlne am.
bassador, NlChollni, where every Stlen.
ton To comfort were layiShed' upon Mn,
When tho heat Of summer rendered
residence III Rome dangerous, he was
allowed 10 20 and take up Iii
residence with bid. old and devoted
tfISnd, the ArChblshop Of Sienna, 4
little later
ALI RESTRICTIONS wEttE REMOVED,
and 10 was permitted 10 return 10 bis
own home In the suburbs Of Florence,
where he died al ripe old AGO In 10I9,
The true causes then Of Noine,b Inter.
ference were GAllleo's persistent attempt
10 act the theolbgiAn, and twist The Sd
cfgd Scriptures Into an argument favor
Ing bid scientific sheeplatlons and hls
open llSteSpeGtlo GcGleblibtical author.
ny. The church was unwilllRg 10 pet. !.