The Church, science and academic freedom

The notion of "academic freedom" has often been invoked, when the Trump government wants to prevent certain scientific research, or when university managements have called in the forces of law and order to suppress demonstrations against the Israeli invasion of Gaza. These academic freedoms are a legacy dating back to the invention of universities and the Middle Ages. Another major player in the dispute between science and power was the Church. Because, at the time, the Church also had something to do with politics.