What did the Catholic Church think about Francis Bacon's discoveries?

Answer 1

The question is rather vague in that it does not mention a specific discovery, but I think the question is meant to ask, "What did the Catholic Church think about the scientific or empirical method advanced by Roger Bacon." Contrary to popular portrayal, the Catholic Church has always promoted the sciences. For instance, Copernicus was a Catholic cleric whose work was funded by Vatican cardinals. The work of Galileo was also supported by the Catholic Church - at first. His difficulties with the Church arose as a result of his insistence that the Church change a theological interpretation based upon his hypothesis of a heliocentric universe. Galileo's hypothesis was highly contested by the best scientists of the day, including Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler who, in fact, eventually proved that Galileo's calculations and hypothesis were wrong - even though his conclusion was ultimately proven later in the 17th century by other methods.

The Church never contested Galileo's work, only his insistence on teaching a theological doctrine based on evidence that by no means proved his hypothesis. The Catholic Church has always fostered science and the scientific method. In fact, it was Roger (not Francis) Bacon, a Franciscan monk, and St. Albert the Great who in the 13th century were the first in Europe to promote the scientific method. The empirical method advanced by Francis Bacon three hundred years later was the fruition of this earlier insistence upon basing conclusions on observation rather than authority when it came to science.

The Church has absolutely no objection to science and has even had its own scientific institutes in the Vatican and elsewhere for hundreds of years. Problems arise between the Catholic Church and individuals or groups of scientists regarding the use of science. For instance, the Church has no problem with the study of genetics or cures for diseases, but when this study involves the intentional and direct killing of human embryos or the genetic manipulation of these embryos for the sake of knowledge, the Church opposes it not because it is science, but because it involves the destruction of innocent human life. In doing so, those involved in such research claim the Church is opposed to science, when in fact, it is simply opposed to killing innocent human beings.

The Church has high regard for the empirical method advanced by Francis Bacon and hopes to enrich her own teachings and understanding of the Christian faith through cooperation with valid scientific inquiry. On the other hand, Francis Bacon and the empirical method are often associated with the Enlightenment and modernism. The enlightenment principle that nothing should be given credence unless it can be empirically verified can cause a great prejudice against faith and religion inasmuch as God and the spiritual aspect of human beings is inherently unverifiable, being spiritual and not material in nature. It must be remembered, however, that just as God's existence cannot be proven empirically (although it can be demonstrated through reason), God's non-existence cannot be proven either on an empirical basis. This situation has given rise to much adversity between, on the one hand, some scientists, atheists, and others who deny the relevance of any faith proposition, and on the other, the Catholic Church which points out that without God there is no basis whatsoever for an ethical or moral order, and that the proposition that God does not exist is just as much an act of faith as is the belief in God. The Church's defense of faith and the validity of faith in the cultural context should not be construed as an attack upon science, but as a defense of the wholeness of the human person as a spiritual incarnation.

Answer 2

The question is rather vague in that it does not mention a specific discovery, but I think the question is meant to ask, "What did the Catholic Church think about the scientific or empirical method advanced by Roger Bacon." Contrary to popular portrayal, the Catholic Church has always promoted the sciences. For instance, Copernicus was a Catholic cleric whose work was funded by Vatican cardinals. The work of Galileo was also supported by the Catholic Church - at first. His difficulties with the Church arose as a result of his insistence that the Church change a theological interpretation based upon his hypothesis of a heliocentric universe. Galileo's hypothesis was highly contested by the best scientists of the day, including Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler who, in fact, eventually proved that Galileo's calculations and hypothesis were wrong - even though his conclusion was ultimately proven later in the 17th century by other methods.

The Church never contested Galileo's work, only his insistence on teaching a theological doctrine based on evidence that by no means proved his hypothesis. The Catholic Church has always fostered science and the scientific method. In fact, it was Roger (not Francis) Bacon, a Franciscan monk, and St. Albert the Great who in the 13th century were the first in Europe to promote the scientific method. The empirical method advanced by Francis Bacon three hundred years later was the fruition of this earlier insistence upon basing conclusions on observation rather than authority when it came to science.

The Church has absolutely no objection to science and has even had its own scientific institutes in the Vatican and elsewhere for hundreds of years. Problems arise between the Catholic Church and individuals or groups of scientists regarding the use of science. For instance, the Church has no problem with the study of genetics or cures for diseases, but when this study involves the intentional and direct killing of human embryos or the genetic manipulation of these embryos for the sake of knowledge, the Church opposes it not because it is science, but because it involves the destruction of innocent human life. In doing so, those involved in such research claim the Church is opposed to science, when in fact, it is simply opposed to killing innocent human beings.

The Church has high regard for the empirical method advanced by Francis Bacon and hopes to enrich her own teachings and understanding of the Christian faith through cooperation with valid scientific inquiry. On the other hand, Francis Bacon and the empirical method are often associated with the Enlightenment and modernism. The enlightenment principle that nothing should be given credence unless it can be empirically verified can cause a great prejudice against faith and religion inasmuch as God and the spiritual aspect of human beings is inherently unverifiable, being spiritual and not material in nature. It must be remembered, however, that just as God's existence cannot be proven empirically (although it can be demonstrated through reason), God's non-existence cannot be proven either on an empirical basis. This situation has given rise to much adversity between, on the one hand, some scientists, atheists, and others who deny the relevance of any faith proposition, and on the other, the Catholic Church which points out that without God there is no basis whatsoever for an ethical or moral order, and that the proposition that God does not exist is just as much an act of faith as is the belief in God. The Church's defense of faith and the validity of faith in the cultural context should not be construed as an attack upon science, but as a defense of the wholeness of the human person as a spiritual incarnation.