The heliocentric theory was formally declared false by the Catholic Church during the historical controversy surrounding Galileo Galilei. It was consequently termed heretical by the Church's Qualifiers.
The Historical Context: The Galileo Affair
During the 17th century, the heliocentric model, which posits that the Earth and planets revolve around the Sun, gained prominence through figures like Nicolaus Copernicus and later, Galileo Galilei. However, this model challenged the long-held geocentric view (Earth-centered universe) supported by the Church and traditional interpretations of Scripture.
The Church's Declaration of Falsity
In the culmination of what became known as the Galileo affair, the Catholic Church formally declared heliocentrism false. This declaration was not based on scientific evidence disproving heliocentrism, but rather on theological interpretations.
- Contradiction with Scriptures: The Church's theological experts, known as Qualifiers, determined that the heliocentric theory contradicted the literal meaning of the Holy Scriptures.
- Designation as Heretical: As a result, heliocentrism was deemed heretical, a belief contrary to fundamental Church doctrine.
Despite Galileo's attempts to convince the Church to remain neutral on the scientific debate, the ecclesiastical authority intervened, leading to this formal declaration against the heliocentric view. It is important to note that this was a theological declaration by the Church, not a scientific disproof of the theory.
