[Hermann the Cherusker]

If you want to believe in the perpetual virginity of Mary, that doesn't bother me. If you want to vigorously disbelieve in the perpetual virginity of Mary, that doesn't bother me either.

I don't think it's a central issue, or even a terribly important issue. Whichever, she intercedes for us in a big way.

How can you say that after you just confessed it as an integral part of the Creed?

natus ex Maria Virgine

That is "born of the Virgin Mary" [perpetual virginity], not "born virginally of Mary" [virgin birth only].

[dsc]

How can you say that after you just confessed it as an integral part of the Creed?...natus ex Maria Virgine...That is "born of the Virgin Mary" [perpetual virginity], not "born virginally of Mary" [virgin birth only]."

I am not a Latin scholar, but I feel confident in asserting that there is nothing in the English phrase, "born of the Virgin Mary," that necessarily implies perpetual virginity.

The central issue is that Our Lord was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, which is demonstrated by the fact that she was a virgin at the time of His birth, which means that she was a virgin ***at*the*time*of*conception***. I don't see how virginity subsequent to that is anything other than inconsequential. Of course, I concede that more knowledge or deeper understanding might force me to alter that opinion.