We all know the earth revolves around the sun. Anyone want to challenge that? 359 years ago, however, the Bible was used to condemn a man who bravely said, “The earth revolves around the sun.”

Catholic Church Apologizes to Galileo

After a 13 year investigation, the Pope finally apologized to Galileo.

Moving formally to rectify a wrong, Pope John Paul II acknowledged in a speech today that the Roman Catholic Church had erred in condemning Galileo 359 years ago for asserting that the Earth revolves around the Sun.

Incorrect Application of the Bible

The Pope further explains that the Catholic theologians incorrectly applied the Bible.

John Paul said the theologians who condemned Galileo did not recognize the formal distinction between the Bible and its interpretation.

This led them unduly to transpose into the realm of the doctrine of the faith, a question which in fact pertained to scientific investigation.

Might we not wait 359 years for such apologies?

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/01/world/vatican-science-panel-told-by-pope-galileo-was-right.html