The TRUTH? The truth is that this was a forgery, NOT written by James.So was Matthew 28:19. So was 1 John 5:7. So was Mark 16:9-20. How about the whole of John 21? And a whole raft of others. Do you admit it or not? If yes, then I admire your willingness to grasp what is. If not, then what?
Suspect verses in EXISTING books that do not alter or contradict KNOWN scripture is hardly comparable to a forgery condemned by a Pope!
Is the protevangelium of James part of the Church Canon?
Was the author an eye witness who just happend to be over 150 years old when the forgery was written?
Why are the handul of NT verses about Mary interpreted thru the "Prizm" of this condemned forgery? Aquinas on the forgery: "apocryphal ravings" (Summa Theologia, Third Part, Question 35, Article 9, Reply to Objection 3)
The Consensus Patrum overrules individuals.
The Protoevangelium is not Canon, yet it obviously seriously influenced the early Church.
Tell me who wrote 2 Peter ca. 150 AD and whether he was an eyewitness of Christ.
The Church’s belief about Mary started long before any NT Scripture was ever written.