From "Catechism of the Catholic Church: 2nd Edition":
964: Mary's role in the Church is inseparable from her union with Christ and flows directly from it. "This union of the mother with the Son in the work of salvation is made manifest from the time of Christ's virginal conception up to his death";504 it is made manifest above all at the hour of his Passion:
"Thus the Blessed Virgin advanced in her pilgrimage of faith, and faithfully persevered in her union with her Son unto the cross. There she stood, in keeping with the divine plan, enduring with her only begotten Son the intensity of his suffering, joining herself with his sacrifice in her mother's heart, and lovingly consenting to the immolation of this victim, born of her: to be given, by the same Christ Jesus dying on the cross, as a mother to his disciple, with these words: "Woman, behold your son."505
Spin it any way you want but when a mere woman is 'united' with God she becomes a goddess. To say that the sufferings of the cross to pay the penalty for our sin by the Son of God has now also been applied to Mary is utter blasphemy.
Again:
966: Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death."508 The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son's Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians:
In giving birth you kept your virginity; in your Dormition you did not leave the world, O Mother of God, but were joined to the source of Life. You conceived the living God and, by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death.509
Note above that Mary is now 'Queen'over all things, and that she will deliver souls from death. These descriptions are affirmation of deity, or goddess worship.
To illustrate that this is indeed what is happening: I once attended a wedding of my nephew in St. Mary's Catholic Church in Evansville, IN. Upon entering the church one looks directly towards the altar. Whereupon one sees a huge statute of Mary with her feet standing upon the globe of the earth completely dominating the entire altar (let alone church itself). I looked in vain trying to find a statue of Christ. Finally I found one in a small alcove in a corner to the right outside of the altar.....it was about maybe a foot tall. So not only is Mary the focal point of the alter, she supercedes Christ in magnificence and size!
Consider these verses applying to Mary which are in complete contradiction to the catechism: Mary, a descendant of Adam, was born in sin (Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12); Mary was a sinner, only God is Holy (Luke 18:19; Romans 3:23; Revelation 15:4); Mary had other children after the birth of Christ (Matthew 13:55, 56); Mary is a member of the church, not the Mother of the Church (Acts 1:14; I Cor. 12:13, 27).
Flame away and say what you will, but elevating Mary to equal or even superior status to Christ, elevating Mary to a full participant in the salvation of Man, and elevating Mary to the Queen of all things is utter blasphemy. To say that Catholics actively engage in goddess worship is an understatement. No wonder a reformation was needed!!!!!!!!!
Good thing Catholics don't do that.
To say that Catholics actively engage in goddess worship is an understatement utter falsehood.
Amen, gramma.
Mary's role in the Church is inseparable from her union with Christ and flows directly from it.
This means without Christ, Mary is nothing. Hardly the position of a goddess.
Why continue to debate when you miss the very first sentence?
Really? Chapter and verse?
Don't you desire to be united with God?
I sure do. It won't make me divine, but it's kind of the entire point of Jesus -- He is humanity and divinity united.
He bridges the gap. He is the Way. His Person makes it possible for we humans to be united to God.
Flame away and say what you will, but elevating Mary to equal or even superior status to Christ, elevating Mary to a full participant in the salvation of Man, and elevating Mary to the Queen of all things is utter blasphemy. To say that Catholics actively engage in goddess worship is an understatement. No wonder a reformation was needed!!!!!!!!!
= =
INDEED and well put.
Thx.