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I have not read thru the comments on this thread, but I have read the original posting. The author is not a protestant, he is a convert to Roman Catholicism. It seems he was Angelican, and this reach for him is not far. It is interesting that he got there thru Scripture, rather than Church teaching.

My take...Jesus is the Son of God, He is God, He is my Lord. I do not need a meadiator, He is my mediator. And He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell me. Yes, Mary was used by God to bring Jesus to earth, born of the flesh and born of God. He is established through this as ‘son of David’. His genealogy is also important, and includes three women, two of whom were not Israelites.

My point - Jesus is my Lord and my Savior. The Holy Spirit, another Comforter sent, is my indwelling guide. I do not need intermediaries. I understand my Catholic friends, and know that some of them feel otherwise. We even have some Rosary Beads here in our home, left by a close Catholic relative. I am ok with that. That person had a close personal relationship with our Lord, and I had the privilege of sharing a word relating to him in a Catholic Church at his funeral.

It seems he was Angelican, and this reach for him is not far.

Well, as other folks have said, the Anglicans are divided into 3: High Church that are close to Catholicism (also called Anglo-Catholics) -- these are orthodox in belief, Low Church that are close to reformed or even Baptists in belief -- these are still very Christian in belief and Gay Church/Liberals -- Gene Robinson fans. If the guy was High Church, then yes, it's not a long step, but if he was Low Church it would be a long step and if he was GC, then it would be impossible.

On an aside, I do respect the Low Church Anglicans far, far more than GC who I do not consider Christian anymore (like the ECUSA)

It is interesting that he got there thru Scripture, rather than Church teaching. And yet, many have -- if one seriously studies scripture and reads what The Church says about itself and CHurch teachings (the catechism, papal encyclicals etc) NOT what others say about the Church (someone once said that there are few who hate The Church but millions who hate what they think The Church is!) -- the early Church fathers, the History of Christianity as written by those who lived it (St Ignatius of Antioch, Clement, John Chrysostom, St. Augustine ("Rome has spoken"), etc.)

My take...Jesus is the Son of God, He is God, He is my Lord. I do not need a meadiator, He is my mediator. --> I'm sure you meant you do not need another mediator (as is obvious by your last statement). And in that, The Church agrees -- Jesus is the sole Mediator between God and Man --> He ALONE is the bridge between God and Man, no one else.

Mary, the saints (on this earth and in heaven) are your co-Christians, brothers and sisters in Christ who pray FOR us, who mediate FOR us -- just as we pray FOR our friends and family, so too does this community of Christians dating back 2000 years pray for all of us).

Jesus is my Lord and my Savior truly spoken and bless you.

The Holy Spirit, another Comforter sent, is my indwelling guide. I do not need intermediaries

You do not, however, Christ and The Church are groom and bride, two sides of the same coin -- separated they can be but the full sense, the full majesty is lost. Anyway, I digress -- I appreciate your sense of living and understanding your Catholic friends and I also hope they (and I) reciprocate that -- may God be with you, brother in Christ