Sentence of the Tribunal of the Supreme Inquisition
against
Galileo Galilei, given the 22nd day of June  of the year 1633

    "It being the case that thou, Galileo, son of
the late Vincenzio Galilei, a Florentine, now aged 70, wast denounced in
this Holy Office in 1615:

    "That thou heldest as true the false doctrine
taught by many, that the Sun was the centre of the universe and
immoveable,
and that  the Earth moved, and had also a diurnal motion: That on
this same matter thou didst hold a correspondence with certain German
mathematicians....

    "That the Sun is the centre of the universe and
doth not move from his place is a proposition absurd and false in
philosophy,
and formerly heretical; being expressly contrary to Holy Writ: That the
Earth is not the centre of the universe nor immoveable, but that it
moves,
even with a diurnal motion, is likewise a proposition absurd and false
in philosophy, and considered in theology ad minus erroneous in
faith.....

    "Invoking then the Most Holy Name of Our Lord
Jesus Christ, and of His most glorious Mother Mary, ever Virgin, for
this
Our definite sentence, the which sitting pro tribunali, by the counsel
and opinion of the Reverent Masters of theology and doctors of both
laws,
Our Counsellors, we present in these writings, in the cause and causes
currently before Us, between the magnificent Carlo Sinceri, doctor of
both
laws, procurator fiscal of this Holy Office on the one part, and thou
Galileo
Galilei, guilty, here present, confessed and judged, on the other part:

    "We say, pronounce, sentence, and declare, that
thou, the said Galileo, by the things deduced during this trial, and by
thee
    confessed as above, hast rendered thyself vehemently
suspected of heresy by this Holy Office, that is, of having believed and
held a doctrine which is false, and contrary to the Holy Scriptures, to
wit: that the Sun is the centre of the universe, and that it does not
move
from east to west, and that the Earth moves and is not the centre of the
universe: and that an opinion may be held and defended as probable after
having been declared and defined as contrary to Holy Scripture; and in
consequence thou hast incurred all the censures and penalties of the
Sacred
Canons, and other Decrees both general and particular, against such
offenders
imposed and promulgated. From the which We are content that thou
shouldst
be absolved, if, first of all, with a sincere heart and unfeigned faith,
thou dost before Us abjure, curse, and detest the above-mentioned errors
and heresies and any other error and heresy contrary to the Catholic and
Apostolic Roman Church, after the manner that We shall require of thee.

    "And to the end that this thy grave error and
transgression remain not entirely unpunished, and that thou mayst be
more
cautious in the future, and an example to others to abstain from and
avoid
similar offences,

    "We order that by a public edict the book of DIALOGUES
OF GALILEO GALILEI be prohibited, and We condemn thee to the prison of
this Holy Office during Our will and pleasure; and as a salutary penance
We enjoin on thee that for the space of three years thou shalt recite
once
a week the Seven Penitential Psalms, reserving to Ourselves the faculty
of moderating, changing, or taking from, all other or part of the
above-mentioned
pains and penalties.

    "And thus We say, pronounce, declare, order, condemn,
and reserve in this and in any other better way and form which by right
We can and ought.

    Ita pronunciamus nos Cardinalis infrascripti.

       F. Cardinalis de Asculo.
       G. Cardinalis Bentivolius
       D. Cardinalis de Cremona.
       A. Cardinalis S. Honuphri.
       B. Cardinalis Gypsius.
       F. Cardinalis Verospius.
       M. Cardinalis Ginettus.
   -- Catholic Church's decision against Galileo Galilei