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To: sargon

http://www.catholic.com/library/Immaculate_Conception_and_Assum.asp

But what about Romans 3:23, “all have sinned”? Have all people committed actual sins? Consider a child below the age of reason. By definition he can’t sin, since sinning requires the ability to reason and the ability to intend to sin. This is indicated by Paul later in the letter to the Romans when he speaks of the time when Jacob and Esau were unborn babies as a time when they “had done nothing either good or bad” (Rom. 9:11).

We also know of another very prominent exception to the rule: Jesus (Heb. 4:15). So if Paul’s statement in Romans 3 includes an exception for the New Adam (Jesus), one may argue that an exception for the New Eve (Mary) can also be made.

Paul’s comment seems to have one of two meanings. It might be that it refers not to absolutely everyone, but just to the mass of mankind (which means young children and other special cases, like Jesus and Mary, would be excluded without having to be singled out). If not that, then it would mean that everyone, without exception, is subject to original sin, which is true for a young child, for the unborn, even for Mary—but she, though due to be subject to it, was preserved by God from it and its stain.


201 posted on 12/19/2010 2:16:11 PM PST by Deo volente (God willing, America will survive this Obamination.)
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To: Deo volente
Mary was an adult, and as such, automatically included in the "all" in "for all have sinned..."

There's no need to explain things away by doing scriptural somersaults.

The Catholic line of reasoning regarding Mary has no scriptural basis, nor does it have any relevance to salvation or prayer.

In other words, all these things can be done without her intercession or involvement. Mariolatry is an unnecessary distraction, a spurious addendum to pure Christianty.

I'm not less of a Christian for believing that Mary was a fallible human being.

Let's hope the converse is also true...

208 posted on 12/19/2010 2:28:52 PM PST by sargon (I don't like the sound of these "boncentration bamps")
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To: Deo volente; sargon; 1000 silverlings; Alex Murphy; bkaycee; blue-duncan; boatbums; caww; ...

It’s irrelevant to the issue of Mary being sinless what God has determined concerning children.

Mary was NOT a child when she became pregnant and delivered Jesus. By virtue of the fact that she was capable of conceiving, she was no doubt well past any age of accountability.

Even if those verses only refer to adults, in Jewish culture, adulthood begins at either 12 or 13, before it’s likely that any girl would have been getting pregnant.


242 posted on 12/19/2010 5:21:31 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: Deo volente
Consider a child below the age of reason. By definition he can’t sin, since sinning requires the ability to reason and the ability to intend to sin. This is indicated by Paul later in the letter to the Romans when he speaks of the time when Jacob and Esau were unborn babies as a time when they “had done nothing either good or bad” (Rom. 9:11).

Maybe by your definition...But not by Paul's, or Gods...You just pointed to a verse about unborn babies and equate it to born, young children...

That's apparently how you guys can worship Mary with a clear conscience...You completely ignore scripture and make up your own...

269 posted on 12/20/2010 8:46:57 AM PST by Iscool (I don't understand all that I know...)
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