I remember reading some detail about Galileo, and I was convinced at the time that the heresy Galileo was accused of was indeed a theological heresy. The naked assertion that the earth revolves around the sun would not have been considered heretical. Another part of Galileo's guilt was that at least according to his fellow scientists he did not really prove his physics satisfactorily -- he was correct, as we know now, but his proof was not sufficient. I do not remember the particulars.
We often take the popular history of science for granted: the Catholic Church had taught geocentrism and was against science, so it supressed scientific research, and Galileo was a model scientist who got victimized. In fact the Church supported science but insisted on rigor both in theology and in science.
You are right on both accounts. The only people who are truly against science are some extreme Evangelical Christian sects, Bible literalists.
As to the second statement, yes, Galileo was permitted by two or three Popes to continue his work. That is an important consideration. The disclaimer that was required with all books of science was to be printed at the very beginning saying, to the effect, that we may never know what is true and therefore assure the readership that the author does not posit his work as something challenging dogma.
I couldn't agree more. Science is a working model based on limited knowledge and such knowledge cannot be universal, complete, perfect. We must never assume that we have seen all physical phenomena, but it is easy to understand that in Galileo's world there were no wireless communications, save for spiritual consumption. I mean, who has seen radio waves?
Galileo was sunder "vehement suspicion of heresy" by only a portion of the Roman Inquisition. While he could not explain the carted studded Moon and perhaps had to accept the Vatican "explanation" that the "devil" was distoritong our view, or that the "strange appendages" on Saturn were also satanic distortion, but once he observed Venus change its fully illuminated face to a crescent shaped one, he knew that the geocentric system was incorrect and he could prove it. He violated therefore the disclaimer that proceeded all his works.
I must add that Galileo assured everyone that he did not forget about God, but that was all in vain. I can see how this can happen given the historical and cultural prejudices that we are all subject to.