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Although we knew the mind of the bishops from the petitions which we had received from them, namely, that the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin be finally defined, nevertheless, on February 2, 1849,[27] we sent an Encyclical Letter from Gaeta to all our venerable brethren, the bishops of the Catholic world, that they should offer prayers to God and then tell us in writing what the piety and devotion of their faithful was in regard to the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God. We likewise inquired what the bishops themselves thought about defining this doctrine and what their wishes were in regard to making known with all possible solemnity our supreme judgment.

http://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_pi09id.htm

See, with enough popular opinion the doctrine as made. Talk it up long enough and it will pass.

Same thing is happening with the Fifth Marian dogma.

Enough popular support is going to get it passed.

If this was something so clear, so solid, it would not need a vote to pass it. The pope should have just declared it.

This is not a biblical way to determine dogma.

In fact, the catholic encyclopedia online says "No direct or categorical and stringent proof of the dogma can be brought forward from Scripture." There is even the objection from some of the ECFs catholics love to cite...yet these are dismissed as being in error. These ECFs are Origen, St. Basil and St. Chrysostom.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07674d.htm

This is not a biblical way to determine dogma.