To say Mary is a Queen Mother is simply to state a contingent fact. Christ is King. Mary is His mother, Therefore Mary is a Queen Mother. That was my point. It's not some new dignity awarded to her by man, but a contingent relationship set up by God. You might want to reference Revelation 12.
As for the Pope being, like Peter, (1)only a man (2)just like you are (3) (who) prevents Cornelius from giving him any undue homage -- this is not under dispute. All Catholics agree with this.
Equality among believers though, is true in one sense, but not in another. It's like "All men are created equal" in the Declaration. True in the sense of everybody equally possessing fundamental human rights, e.g. the right to simply go on living. But not true in the sense of culture, character, or competence.
St. Paul says all are equal because all are one, i.e. one in Christ. But in another place he says, (1 Corinthians 12:28-31):
And God has placed in the church:
first of all apostles,
second prophets,
third teachers,
then miracles,
then gifts of healing,
of helping,
of guidance, and
of different kinds of tongues.
Are all apostles?
Are all prophets?
Are all teachers?
Do all work mighty deeds?
Do all have gifts of healing?
Do all speak in tongues?
Do all interpret?
Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.
So one could note that Peter was given the Power of the Keys, is listed first in the many listings of the Apostles in the NT, acts as spokesman for the other Apostles (E.g. Jesus asks them a question, Peter voices the answer), and is given the threefold Shepherd's role because Jesus takes him at his word when he says he loves Jesus "more than these".
So Peter as a soul in an equal soul. But Peter has a role given to him by God, which gives him special prominence. It does not make him sinless. It does not make him error-free. It does make him the (flawed but genuine) leader, whose role --- after his stumble and his return to Christ --- is to "strengthen the brethren." (Luke 22:32)
Pick any Catholic printed bible (I'm looking at a Catholic Teen Bible The New American Bible) and before you get to the actual scriptures themselves; you'll find a virtual alphabet soup of titles and abbreviations for such, on the Collaborators pages.
Edtors, translators, Bishops...
Pick any Catholic printed bible (I'm looking at a Catholic Teen Bible The New American Bible) and before you get to the actual scriptures themselves; you'll find a virtual alphabet soup of titles and abbreviations for such, on the Collaborators pages.
Edtors, translators, Bishops...