Why did the Catholic Church start opposing Copernicus's beliefs?

The Catholic church had placed Church traditions and the teaches of the Catholic church on a equal if not superior position to scripture. Copernicus's beliefs contradicted the Churches teachings about the nature of the universe.

St Thomas Aquanus had written a systematic theology based on the scientific theories of Aristotle. The writings of St Thomas had become part of the accepted theology of the Catholic Church. The scientific theories of Aristotle had become part of the Catholic tradition. Catholic tradition was considered to be without error.

Part of Aristotle's scientific theory was that the earth was the center of the universe. Copernicus taught that the sun was the center of the solar system. The teaching of Copernicus clearly contradicted the teachings of Aristotle and therefore the teachings and authority of the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Church had endorsed the teachings of Aristotle's Scientific theories and could not accept the scientific discoveries and theories of Copernicus. To accept Copernicus's beliefs was to contradict the Church's claim to infallibility in the Churches traditions and teachings.