Introduction
Dr. White, on yesterday’s special edition of the Dividing Line, provided answers and some cross examination of one of the critics of an article I wrote a while ago on the worship of Mary in Catholicism. Dr. White did an excellent job, I write here simply to briefly summarize two of the relevant points, for those listeners who, like the caller, were confused.
1. External Critique
This critique of Catholicism is an external critique. We are not saying that Roman Catholicism today says, “We worship Mary.” Instead, we are saying that actions and attitudes expressed by Benedict XVI and others amount to worship: they are worship. Shakespeare wrote that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
2. External Judgment
This critique of Roman Catholicism is based on the actual events and expressed opinions of the members of Roman Catholicism identified. It is not based on reading their minds. We are not suggesting that the average person at the Vatican kneels in front of a statue and says to themselves, “Time to worship Mary.” No, instead, we are saying that the expressed attitudes towards Mary (such as asking Mary to turn their hearts or the hearts of others) are inappropriate – that they amount to worship of Mary.
Conclusion
Our goal here is to warn folks that what they are doing is wrong. We are not trying to suggest that “Joe Roman Catholic” knows that he is worshiping Mary when he recites the Ave Maria, when he bows to a statue of Mary, and when he otherwise venerates Mary and departed believers.
-TurretinFan
