Back And Forth On Mary's Identity: IMATC v. DDF
The latest response to the document of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), Mater Populi Fidelis (MPF), or perhaps the most significant response in terms of quantity of contributors and length of the text, is that of the International Marian Association Theological Commission (IMATC). Athanasius contra mundum? The IMATC response to MPF draws on a range of voices from the past and present. While quoting popes, saints, and theologians can be fitting, simply citing many sources doesn’t guarantee a strong defense—especially if those chosen mostly challenge the official stance, while supportive ones are downplayed or interpreted in ways that diminish their significance. Faith and Morals The significance of a pope’s statements depends on their nature, and while Catholics should take all papal remarks seriously—given the Pope’s role as the successor of Peter—not every decree, letter, or informal comment (e.g. one made during an airplane interview) carries the same weight. T...