Letter to Paolo Antonio Foscarini

Foscarini had sent Bellarmine a letter and a treatise. Bellarmine answers in three points. First, he says that Foscarini and Galileo do prudently if they speak hypothetically: to say that the appearances are better saved by supposing the earth to move is no danger and is enough for a mathematician, but to affirm that the sun really stands still and the earth really moves is dangerous, because it irritates the philosophers and theologians and makes Scripture false. Second, the Council of Trent forbids interpreting Scripture against the common agreement of the Fathers, who all take the passages literally. Third, if there were a true demonstration, one would have to proceed with great caution in explaining the passages that seem contrary, and say that we do not understand them rather than that what is demonstrated is false; but he does not believe there is such a demonstration and has been shown none.

It is a private letter, and it is Bellarmine’s own statement of his position. It is cited in the Trial of Galileo.