No new Marian dogma according to Vatican spokesman

Vivificat! - News, Opinions, Commentary, from a Personal Catholic Perspective ^ | 22 June 2007 | Teófilo

[Teófilo]

Folks, my better-known colleague, Gerald Augustinus the esteemed blogger at The Cafeteria is Closed, shared with us a report from a German site, Kath.Net, which reported that "Vatican spokesman Fr. Lombardi denied that Pope Benedict was planning to formulate a new Marian dogma referring to Mary as "co-redemptrix". Rumors had been swirling about such a move. In the book "God and the World" the then cardinal did not favor such a dogma." You may read the Gerald's blogpost and subsequent comments here.

In my humble, simple, lay, and totally unsolicited opinion: at this moment in time, the only reason why we would define another Marian dogma would be simply because we can. It would add nothing to current understandings about Our Most Blessed Mother and Our Lord Jesus Christ, it would just be an exercise of power. Every Marian dogma should have a firm Christological and ecclessiological ground. A dogma defining Our Blessed Mother's role in the distribution of graces lack this ground.

I once suggested that if the Church were to define any new dogma at all, we should define The Absolute Primacy of Christ. We can say "duh" but really think about it: it has never been defined. If the Church is looking to exercise her extraordinary magisterium, this would be, in my humble opinion, one way to go.

Now more than ever we need this kind of witness. In fact, this might be one dogma we can promulgate along with the Orthodox, either together or simultaneously.

Think this over. Review the arguments here.

[Teófilo]

Blunders. Typos. Mine.

[Teófilo]

PING!

[Tax-chick]

I would be very surprised to see Pope Benedict define a new Marian dogma. As you say, how would it help?

[Alex Murphy]

...the only reason why we would define another Marian dogma would be simply because we can.

Ping to follow the thread

[Quix]

Oh, Dear . . .

how to anger the magicsterical AND the masses in one stroke of the UNpen.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

the only reason why we would define another Marian dogma would be simply because we can.

LOL. Truth in advertising.

[HarleyD]

"...the only reason why we would define another Marian dogma would be simply because we can. It would add nothing to current understandings"

What would be the point then?

[siunevada]

Vatican spokesman Fr. Lombardi denied that Pope Benedict was planning to formulate a new Marian dogma

I would hazard a guess that the person who asked the question and those who set the rumors swirling have bizarre conceptions of how such a thing might happen and who this person Joseph Ratzinger is.

They seem to imagine such a thing might happen on a whim. "Hey, I'm in the mood for a new dogma today! What have we got hanging around that I can put into play?"

That doggone pope! He is one wild and crazy guy!

[A.A. Cunningham]

"co-redemptrix" - Latin for the woman with the Redeemer.