<P> In this most famous example cited by critics of the Catholic Church's "posture towards science", Galileo Galilei was denounced in 1633 for his work on the heliocentric model of the solar system, previously proposed by the Polish clergyman and intellectual Nicolaus Copernicus . Copernicus's work had been suppressed de facto by the Church, but Catholic authorities were generally tolerant of discussion of the hypothesis as long as it was portrayed only as a useful mathematical fiction, and not descriptive of reality . Galileo, by contrast, argued from his unprecedented observations of the solar system that the heliocentric system was not merely an abstract model for calculating planetary motions, but actually corresponded to physical reality--that is, he insisted the planets really do orbit the Sun . After years of telescopic observation, consultations with the Popes, and verbal and written discussions with astronomers and clerics, a trial was convened by the Tribunal of the Roman and Universal Inquisition . Galileo was found "vehemently suspect of heresy" (not "guilty of heresy," as is frequently misreported), placed under house arrest, and all of his works, including any future writings, were banned . Galileo had been threatened with torture and other Catholic scientists fell silent on the issue . Galileo's great contemporary René Descartes stopped publishing in France and went to Sweden . According to Polish - British historian of science Jacob Bronowski: </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> "</Td> <Td> The effect of the trial and imprisonment was to put a total stop to the scientific tradition in the Mediterranean . From now on the Scientific Revolution moved to Northern Europe . </Td> <Td>" </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> "</Td> <Td> The effect of the trial and imprisonment was to put a total stop to the scientific tradition in the Mediterranean . From now on the Scientific Revolution moved to Northern Europe . </Td> <Td>" </Td> </Tr> <P> Pope John Paul II, on 31 October 1992, publicly expressed regret for the actions of those Catholics who badly treated Galileo in that trial . Cardinal John Henry Newman, in the nineteenth century, claimed that those who attack the Church can only point to the Galileo case, which to many historians does not prove the Church's opposition to science since many of the churchmen at that time were encouraged by the Church to continue their research . </P>

What impact did the rise of christianity have on the intellectual life of europe