Maybe one of these days we shall discuss that "persecution of scientists or free thinkers" myth.
If it were not for the Catholic Church, there would be no scientists or free thinkers to begin with.
Well--Burning Heretics at the Stake, Witch Trials, Inquisition (Gallileo, Jordano Bruno, etc.), I suppose not Myths.
Church was (and still is to a certain extent) a primary patron of Arts, Sciences and Humanities--that's true. But we can't deny that it was at one time an oppressive force. Spanish Inquisition and Torquemada (Autonomous from Vatican but still Catholics) are not myths either. After all, why John Paul II chose apology to scientific and Jewish community for historical persecution, even though he had nothing to do with it ?
Actually I would rather not go too much into debate over this. It's hard to look into something (i.e. Christian Church History) objectively if you feel really passionate about it. What I'd rather do is to look forward when Christian Churches will truly become a potent moral force for good.