Re: [asa] Galileo Statue Nixed

Guys, you're reading too much into this statute thing, I think. Take a look
at the Vatican's most recent report on creation and evolution (published as
a book, with a warm introduction by Pope Benedict). I wish, I wish, I wish,
we evangelical protestants had such a careful, nuanced and honest way of
integrating all this.

David W. Opderbeck
Associate Professor of Law
Seton Hall University Law School
Gibbons Institute of Law, Science & Technology

On Mon, Feb 2, 2009 at 1:50 PM, George Cooper <georgecooper@sbcglobal.net>wrote:

> Hi Dick,
>
>
>
> Yes, there are pros and cons to honoring those that have been scorned.
> Your view may be the wiser, but the decision is very subjective. IMO, I
> think the "Church", especially the Pope, would have more to gain than lose
> by continuing with the statute placement. Galileo was faithful to his
> faith and the Church; he was one of theirs. He was personal friends with
> many of the Cardinals and with the Popes, though he fell from grace with
> Urban, obviously. He is also, rightfully, still beloved by Italians, and
> that too must be considered.
>
>
>
> Your comparison of honoring Galileo with Darwin is a good one. No doubt
> there are many church bodies that would not object to honoring, though there
> would be many that would be quite resentful of such an idea. It seems to
> surprise some that Darwin's cornerstone came from Rev. Thomas Malthus ideas
> on populations. I certainly don't expect any statue arising at my church's
> facility, but perhaps they could let loose a bunch of pigeons there at
> Westminster Abbey; Newton won't mind. J
>
>
>
> Coope
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Dick Fischer [mailto:dickfischer@verizon.net]
> *Sent:* Monday, February 02, 2009 12:20 PM
> *To:* 'George Cooper'
> *Cc:* ASA
>
> *Subject:* RE: [asa] Galileo Statue Nixed
>
>
>
> Hi Coope:
>
>
>
> I think it is one thing for a religious organization, and in this case a
> major religion, to admit to previous mistakes. It's quite another to
> celebrate them. It's in that same vein that I have some misgivings about
> celebrating Darwin. Okay, he was a brilliant scientist and made a major
> contribution to our understanding of biology. But somehow I feel overtones
> that serve to be a slap in the face to our Christian beliefs. Maybe I'm
> just being over sensitive but if I were a pastor and Darwin Week was coming
> up (it is) I don't think I would prepare a special sermon to mark the
> occasion. I would prefer a science week to honor great scientists and group
> Darwin in with Kepler, Newton, Einstein and others. I would rather
> celebrate science than just Darwin. I think it has the unfortunate
> ramification of sending the wrong message or at the very least a mixed
> message.
>
>
>
> Dick Fischer, GPA president
>
> Genesis Proclaimed Association
>
> "Finding Harmony in Bible, Science and History"
>
> www.genesisproclaimed.org
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> *From:* asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] *On
> Behalf Of *George Cooper
> *Sent:* Monday, February 02, 2009 10:43 AM
> *To:* asa@calvin.edu
> *Subject:* RE: [asa] Galileo Statue Nixed
>
>
>
> Hi Dick,
>
>
>
> Perhaps the sting of the Galileo affair will heal itself given more time. *
> *wink**
>
>
>
> The Galileo lesson is quite important in our day, too. There were mistakes
> made by both sides. One year ago, the Pope was forced to cancel his trip to
> La Sapienza due to the protests from students and numerous faculty over a
> statement made by the Pope (while a Cardinal) 18 years earlier that condoned
> the Church's judgement upon Galileo. It will be helpful for the Church
> to erect the statute.
>
>
>
> Coope
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] *On
> Behalf Of *Dick Fischer
> *Sent:* Saturday, January 31, 2009 3:43 PM
> *To:* ASA
> *Subject:* [asa] Galileo Statue Nixed
>
>
>
> Galileo statue nixed. (He doesn't look happy about it.)
>
>
>
>
> http://scienceandreligiontoday.blogspot.com/2009/01/galileo-wont-get-vatican-statue-anytime.html
>
>
>
> Galileo Won't Get Vatican Statue Anytime Soon<http://scienceandreligiontoday.blogspot.com/2009/01/galileo-wont-get-vatican-statue-anytime.html>
>
> Posted: 30 Jan 2009 07:02 PM CST
>
>
> <http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4yND9fPzue0/SYN7YgYl0rI/AAAAAAAABbQ/A7v983qgU2Q/s1600-h/galileo_hist_big%5B1%5D.png>Back
> in March<http://scienceandreligiontoday.blogspot.com/2008/03/galileo-gets-statute-in-vatican.html>,
> we told you about the Vatican's plans to erect a statue of Galileo in its
> gardens—both to mark the 400th anniversary of his telescope<http://scienceandreligiontoday.blogspot.com/2009/01/happy-international-year-of-astronomy.html>and to help fully
> rehabilitate his image<http://scienceandreligiontoday.blogspot.com/2008/12/vaticans-extreme-galileo-makeover.html>.
> (After the Catholic Church charged the astronomer with heresy, he was forced
> to recant his scientific view of heliocentrism—the idea that the Earth
> revolved around the sun—during his 1633 trial.)
> Now, it seems the plan for the statue is on hold, indefinitely. Monsignor
> Gianfranco Ravasi, head of the Pontifical Council for Culture, told *The
> Times*<http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article5612996.ece>that the statue had "only been an idea," which is now "suspended"—though
> Galileo "deserves all our appreciation and gratitude."<http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0900440.htm>
> Galileo, Ravasi said in a statement, can now be recognized "as a believer
> who, in the context of his time, sought to reconcile the results of his
> scientific researches with his Christian faith." And "the church wishes to
> honor the figure of Galileo—innovative genius and son of the church," with a
> number of initiatives this year.
> But the statue is no longer one of them. According to Ravasi, the statue
> had been designed, and a mold had been made, but the Vatican asked the
> project's sponsor to divert the funds to projects in Nigeria and other
> places "to foster a better understanding of the relationship between science
> and religion." —*Heather Wax*
>
>
>

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