Last Updated: Tuesday - 01/04/2011

But others have doubts

EDMONTON — While theologian Mark Miravalle — and six million other Catholics — think Pope John Paul should declare a new dogma about Mary, some at the Vatican have criticized the proposal.

In 1997, a 20-person international theological commission set up to examine the question of whether Mary should be declared coredemptrix, mediatrix and advocate voted unanimously against the idea.

The commission commented that the three titles proposed for Mary are ambiguous. It also noted that the Second Vatican Council avoided the term "coredemptrix" and made "only a very sober use" of the titles "mediator" and "advocate."

The commission, which included five non-Catholics, further said that "ecumenical difficulties" would arise if a definition of these titles for Mary were to occur.

Commenting on the commission report, Father Salvatore Perrella, a leading Marian theologian, said the Church is far away from having "substantial theological unanimity" on the three titles.

Proclaiming those titles would only create problems and confusion, Perrella said. It would cloud the Church's teaching that Christ is the world's unique saviour and redeemer.

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