[TomSmedley]

You are conflatimg heresy and orthodoxy and claiming that is representative of Catholicsm. That seems an absurd, abusive, and dishonest approach to those of another Faith

No, just representative of the human condition in a fallen world. Every denomination, and every Christian, has skeletons in the closet. BTW -- if we stand of the faith of the ecumenical creeds, we are of the same faith.

[adiaireton8]

if we stand of the faith of the ecumenical creeds, we are of the same faith.

So do you accept the teaching of the Fifth Ecumenical Council (Constantinople, 533) which give Mary the title "perpetual virgin"?

-A8

[bornacatholic]

Folk catholicism does, indeed, regard, celebrate, and treat the BVM as a friendlier deity than the Trinity. The cult of the BVM, in practice (if not in official dogma) is a para-Christian religion with an alternate deity, alternate revelation, alternate plan of salvation, alternate mysticism, etc. Just like Mormonism, which also provides point-for-point substitutes to Christianity.

*That is a nasty and false accusation. And it is an OLD accusation.

In The City of God St Augustine took the time to refute such false accusations.

The fact you insist you have some sort of right to make such ugly charges does not mean they are true or representative of Catholicissm just means you have pleaded guilty to thinking the worst of others. That really ain't Christian, brother

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Read "The Cult of the Virgin Mary: Psychological Origins" by Michael P. Carroll.