Many Protestants are ignorant of the fact that both Luther and Calvin admitted the dogma of the divine maternity.
Luther wrote: There is no honor, no beatitude, capable of approaching an elevation which consists in being, of the whole human race, the sole person, superior to all others, unequaled in the prerogative of having one Son in common with the Heavenly Father". - The Lutheran witness, Volume 33 (By General English Lutheran Conference of Missouri and Other States, English Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri and Other States, Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States)
Calvin wrote: "We cannot acknowledge the blessings brought us by Jesus without acknowledging at the same time how highly God honored and enriched Mary in choosing her for the Mother of God". - The Genevan Catechism
All Christians accept Mary's virginal motherhood.. but believe she has godly relations with her HUSBAND and produced other children
Scripture is quite clear that she had sexual relations with her husband Joseph, and had children by him.
Matthew 1:19 Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold the angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name JESUS. For he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: 23 Behold a virgin shall be with child, and bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 And Joseph rising up from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and took unto him his wife. 25 And he knew her not till she brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Other Scripture lists Jesus' brothers by name.
Why is it so important to Catholics to think that Mary was always a virgin?
What's the problem they have with the thought that she was a wife to her husband and had other children?
How does that affect Catholic doctrine?
Does it affect a person's salvation if she wasn't perpetually a virgin?
How would the Catholic church change if she wasn't?
WOULD it change?
To Calvin, Mary is an idol in the Roman Church, and she diminishes the centrality and importance of Jesus. Hence, his Genevan Catechism not only outlawed Marian veneration, it also punished related behavior, such as carrying a rosary, observing a saints day, or possessing holy relics.[2] Regarding Marian relics, Calvin commented in an ironical way that since the Papists had assumed her to be in heaven, at least nobody can claim to have Marian relics, otherwise there would be so many Marian bones in circulation, that a huge new cemetery could be filled with them.[3]
You know, it's become apparent we must double-check what these papists write in order to keep them as honest as possible.
Here's the entire Genevan Catechism, written by John Calvin, and NOWHERE do the above words appear.
In fact, the word "Mary" only appears ONE TIME when Calvin is repeating the Apostles Creed -- "our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate..."
Imagine that. What Roman Catholic apologists offer as fact is instead outright fabrication; fiction; phony.