Not really, Copernicus' entire life and all his decades-long studies were paid for by the catholic church and his research was accepted by the Pope himself, eve

Not really, Copernicus' entire life and all his decades-long studies were paid for by the catholic church and his research was accepted by the Pope himself, even to the point of being taught at Catholic universities. Noone "persecuted" him in any way. It only changed over a hundred years later due to the opposition from the Protestants that his books became banned.