The church supported the most supported theory of the time. Better than those anti-science folks who refuse to budge in what they think no matter the evidence.
Which makes 'the church' nothing but an echo of the prevailing opinion of men. IOW, nothing at all.
"Better than those anti-science folks who refuse to budge in what they think no matter the evidence."
You are confused. The evidence is all the same. There is no evidence that proves anything either way. It is all in the interpretation of the evidence and that is a function of 'a priori' assumptions. Those who philosophically assume naturalism 'a priori' have 'natural' theories.
I think that not understanding that point is the root of your problem.