Why should it matter what Galileo's motives were, or why should it matter whether he was right?
The supression of ideas by authority is the greatest single crime that can be committed. Worse than rape or murder, because crimes against the body affect a limited number of people. Crimes agains free speech are crimes against the mind, the greatest gift we have.
I don't think so. Suppression breeds revolution and is as such a temporary state of affairs. Dead is dead.
I like that. Judges and School Boards seem to enjoy supressing the notion that biology as we know it may not be a product or natural selection and random mutations after all. Shall they be charged with a crime?
As I said, I was not claiming moral equivalency. I was not claiming Galileo was "equally wrong."
I'm not sure I agree with your claim that a crime against free speech is the greatest crime, but I will certainly rank it very high.
Shalom.