[Desdemona]

I agree with the Protestants, I think James was Jesus' son, and I think he had other brothers and sisters. The Roman Catholics don't believe this because then it would mean that Mary is just like any other woman, and not a "holy perpetual virgin" that they can worship.

Mary is not worshipped, as she is not divine. She is venerated.

Whether step-brother or cousin to Jesus, it doesn't matter. James was a close relative. He was from the same house. Mary did not birth him. We do know from scripture that Jesus came from a large family where all relatives were considered brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles. Exact geneology doesn't matter.

[Lyford]

Mary did not birth him.

How do you know?

[Thinkin' Gal]

Exact geneology doesn't matter.

How conveeeenient.

[ksen]

Exact geneology doesn't matter.

That's mighty convenient.....

[Delbert]

Here we go again...Another Mary never had babies after Jesus thread....

[concerned about politics]

Mary did not birth him.

I'm Baptist. We believe Mary was just a vessel chosen to carry the blessed child. A womb, but that's all. After his birth, she proceeded with her normal wifely duties. She was born into sin like any other woman. Why shouldn't she service her husband like other wives?

[William Terrell]

Mary is not worshipped, as she is not divine. She is venerated.

Near where I live there is a statue of Mary in a field. People kneel before the statue and pray, and afterwards leave money in a box. Sure seems like idol worship and sacrifice to same to me.

[razorbak]

Mary is not worshipped, as she is not divine. She is venerated.

She is worshipped\venerated all right. One of my theological professors from seminary visited a Catholic church in France which featured a huge cross inside with Jesus dying on one side and Mary on the other.

Jesus was sinless. Catholics say Mary was. Jesus ascended into heaven. Catholics say Mary did. Jesus is our redeemer and mediator. Catholics call Mary co-redemptrix and co-mediatrix. Jesus was God. Catholics call Jesus the "Mother of God." And when pictured with Christ, they almost always show her as an adult and him as a baby, implying her superiority over him.

Some of this non-biblical Mariology did not become dogma until the last 50 to 150 years. But Catholics pray to Mary far more than to Jesus, despite the fact that not one verse in the New Testament supports this. And Mary is not the Mother of God. There has never been a time in eternity past that the Son was not God. Mary is the mother of Jesus' human body and human nature only. And Christ was offered as a sacrifice once for all according to Hebrews chapters 8-10, not continually sacrificed and eaten in the Supper. Roman Catholicism since its beginning in the fifth century A.D. has become a mixture of some Christian doctrine, some pagan doctrine, and whatever else happens to appeal to enough Catholics and their popes. I appreciate the anti-abortion and anti-homosexuality stands of this current pope. But all of that could change at any time with some Papl declaration. And the leniency with which all of these homosexual priests have been treated makes me wonder how serious the RCC is about its anti-homosexuality stand.

[madison10]

No step-brothers, unless of course Mary had a bunch of kids after Joseph died. ;) Jesus was the eldest, if He were not, then He would not be considered to be in the direct line of King David.

[Quix]

venerated vs worshipped?

Wellllllllllllllll, when I return to the principle of

judging people's words by people's actions . . .

guess I'd still have to go with 'worshipped.'

Behavior tends to be a lot more honest than vocabulary.

[RobbyS]

If Mary is not who we think her to be, then Jesus was a mere man.