Replies

I think that it would helpful if we acknowledged that we cannot prove that Catholics are worshiping Mary, though it may seem that she is their prime object of spiritual affection and security given that the amount of honorific titles, attributions, prayers and devotion to her can exceed that given to Christ, and cast Him into the background.

In addition, it cannot be said that we follow Luther as a pope, or that he is the founder of our faith, seeing as he was one of many who imperfectly followed Christ. Who began His church in dissent from those who, like Rome, presumed a level of assured veracity above that which was written.

Nor should RCs labor to support by Scripture such traditions as the IM (which the EOs reject as contrary to Tradition), and what we see as excess devotion to Mary and prayers to her, because,

A. The extrapolative nature of attempts to establish them by Scripture overall evidences to SS types that these really flow from tradition.

And

B. Because the real basis for such teachings is that of the authority of Rome, who has infallibly declared herself infallible and as the One who infallibly defines the extent and meaning of Scripture and Tradition (though the extent of Tradition is unknown).

Thus as it was with the beginning of the church, which began with an Itinerant Preacher in dissent from those who sat in power, the issue is that of the basis for assurance of truth claims, that of Scriptural substantiation or self declaration.