Christmas Controversy: Did the Pope and a Portuguese Bishop Just Contradict Marian Dogmas?

Bree Dail on Francis's and Bishop Linda's 'questionable' statements.

From One Peter Five

VATICAN CITY, December 27, 2018—As Catholic Faithful continue their Christmas celebrations this week, controversy has arisen over two public statements from high-ranking prelates that seemingly contradict Marian Dogmas of the Catholic Church.

In an interview given to Portuguese new media, Bishop Manuel Linda of Oporto, Portugal, stated “we should never refer to the physical virginity of Mary.” “The Old Testament says many times that Jesus was to be born of a maiden, a daughter of Israel, who was simple, poor, and humble. But this is truly just a reference to the full devotion of this woman to God. The gift of being mother of God was given to Mary because she had an undivided heart. What matters is full giving of herself…” In explicit detail, he further stated. “There certainly are women with a ruptured hymen who are more virgin in the sense of full devotion to God than some with an intact hymen.”

Miraculous Image of Our Lady, San’Andrea Delle Fratte. Photo by Bree A. Dail

When the report of these statements hit the Portuguese press on Christmas Day, an almost immediate outcry from lay faithful in his diocese forced Bishop Linda to “clarify” his words (now seen in the current publication.)

Evidence that the Dogma of the Perpetual Virginity of Mary has been held as such since the foundations of the Church, may be found within early Baptismal rites. Direct reference to it is found, however, within the Lateran Council of 649 A.D—“Mary conceived “without any detriment to her virginity, which remained inviolate even after his birth”. To state anything other than this is in direct contradiction of the Catholic Faith.

Just days prior, Pope Francis—during his annual address to the families of Vatican Employees on December 21—read the following from his prepared texts:

“Our Lady and Saint Joseph are full of joy: they look at the Child Jesus and they are happy because, after a thousand worries, they have accepted this gift of God, with so much faith and so much love. They are “overflowing” with holiness and therefore with joy. And you will tell me: of course! They are Our Lady and Saint Joseph! Yes, but let us not think it was easy for them: saints are not born, they become thus, and this is true for them too.” [emphasis added]

Consternation has arisen among the faithful over the pope’s last two sentences.

The Dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary states “that the most Blessed Virgin Mary, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege from Almighty God and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, was kept free of every stain of original sin.” Therefore, when Pope Pius IX declared, infallibly, the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception, the Church declared that Our Lady was conceived and born without sin.

With the growing state of confusion in the Church, it has become necessary–even vital– for Catholic Faithful to strongly reaffirm the Truths of Faith and Doctrine when presented with grave error.