Why did people keep being Catholic after Galileo proved the church a lier?

Question

And that was 400 years ago! Obviously, fallibility is a big part of the Catholic organization.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_Galilei#Church_controversy
Or maybe the question should have been "Why do people continue with that organization when it has had to pay hundreds of millions due to child-molesting priest scandals?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-maher/the-business-of-the-catho_b_56365.html

Answer 1

Because a lot of Priests are not child molesters

Answer 2

Part I: The Pope took advice from notable scientists and government officials of the time. It was the uproar of the government and existing scientists who urged the Pope to ignore Galileo.

Part II: Why doesn't other organization like the government make penance to it's victims? Why does the government CYA and put a "Statute of Limitations" and ceiling on monitary damages for thier employees (Senitor's, Cop's, Teachers, Firemen, Homeland Security officers). In most states they have determined that if a child is molested by a government employee then they can receive $50,000.00 per child IF the child reports the molestation within 180 days.

So I ask back to you ... why is it fair that the Senitor who elected himself to head an appropriation commitee to stop internet molestations and then this same senitor "Grooms" a 14 year old boy who he hand picked for the panal ... WHY ... WHY is this 14 year old boy due only $50,000.00 while a similar boy who was molested by a Priest who's now dead receives $1 Million dollars. IS the pain inflicted different? IMO, the Senitor has more "Power" and did more damage, but the govt see that they can form a "Boy's Club" (pun intended).

Why are we allowing this???

Answer 3

I will start out by saying that though I was raised Catholic, I am no longer Catholic. However all priests are not child molesters, it is sick men who have done the molesting. I too am angry and disappointed that the church did nothing to prosecute these sinful men. However this has not changed many peoples attitude toward their faith.

As far as Galileo, I answer to a higher power as to what is right in my faith.

Answer 4

Some people want to believe in a higher power, and although there may have been something proving the Catholic church wrong 400 years ago, many people still think that the churches morals are to their liking.

Answer 5

In answer to the Galileo part of your question, it says right in the article that you cited that the Catholic Church as such never formally denied the heliocentric theory. The Church is only infallible when the Pope speaks ex cathedra on matters of faith and morals. Therefore, Galileo did not prove the Church to be a liar.

The sex abuse crisis is indeed a tragedy. However, the abusers are individuals acting as individuals, and in fact they are acting against the teachings of the Church. Because they are the actions of individuals, I feel no need to have to say that they're right. Just because I am Catholic doesn't mean that I have to condone every action taken by anyone who calls himself Catholic.

Answer 6

The attitude is probably something like "people are fallible, but God is not." That is to say, just because people who happen to be Catholic do bad things, that doesn't necessarily mean the whole Catholic faith is defunct. In fact, as far as I know, all Christian denominations/groups emphasize the fallibility of man. Now, I'm not Catholic myself, but I think this logic could be applied to -any- group of people. It wouldn't make much sense to say "Well, look at that environmental activist who blew up such-and-such, so clearly we shouldn't care for the environment."

Answer 7

throughout history the Catholic Church has made it a priority to deny access of the Scriptures to the average peasant and ordinary person thus ensuring that ordinary people stay uneducated and dependant on their priests and clergy for spiritual guidance. problem is, it was all about power, not about saving souls. So if Galileo uncovered anything about the church, the average person is too uneducated or brainwashed to care.

Answer 8

Expand your reasoning - if he 'proved' it, then why does ANY religion continue to exist at all - be it catholic, protestant, Buddhist, Muslim - etc,

Part Two: the scandals occurred in the past before there were laws - it wasn't until the 70's/80's that children and wives were no longer considered chattel, i.e., 'property.' No law/no crime.

Answer 9

To many Catholics, being Catholic is a tradition. This doesn't prove the church is lying; it proves that men that think that the bible is all they ever need to know or follow, and that no further revelation is needed, is incorrect.

Answer 10

becuase who was Galileo in regards to faith - nothing. the Rcc was standing for hundreds of years well prior to his thoughts. the priests now are a disgrace and NOT the majority. why do women continue to marry men when there are numerous fathers & uncles that are pedophiles? why do parents allow their childreden to continute their schooling when there are more pedophile teachers?

people don't need to stop that which is right - even when there are those that seek to destroy it.