[Antoninus]

The fact that your church bases it's practices on a forgery should raise questions for you as a member of that church.

The fact that your church bases its practices on Sacred Scripture as canonically defined by the Catholic Church should raise some questions for you...

[wmfights]

"The fact that your church bases its practices on Sacred Scripture as canonically defined by the Catholic Church should raise some questions for you..."
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This is another Myth your church has perpetuated. If you study how the Canon was formed and recognized, you will find that the RCC only recognized the Canon after the fact. The Holy Spirit clearly was in control.

The "Protoevangelium of James" first appeared around 175-200 AD. Approx. 145 years after the Crucifixion. None, I repeat NONE, of the Apostles wrote about Mary having any "special" powers or any of the other myths surrounding her. The "Protoevangelium of James" was recognized as a fraud almost from the beginning and interestingly enough appeared on the scene about 30-50 years after the "Acts of Paul and Thekla" appeared (another forgery).

The cult of Thekla was growing and sowing discord before the "Protevangelium of James" appeared. Tertulian complained that the example of Thekla was being used to legitimate women's roles of teaching and baptizing in the church. The "Protoevangelium of James" appears and we have a new defined submissive role for women creating all kinds of special "powers" around this humble woman. The history is straightforward if you want to look at it.

The shame in all this myth making is it diminishes a truly special person, Mary.