By Mike Burkland
Arizona Daily Wildcat
December 4, 1997

Catholic clarifications

Editor:

The editorial appearing in the Friday, November 21 Wildcat concerning the Catholic Church, the pope, the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the content of her messages, contained a number of errors that need to be addressed.

While Ms. Stein correctly cited the defining of the doctrine by Pope Pius XII in 1950 of the Assumption into heaven of the Blessed Virgin, her statement that "he can declare whatever the hell he wants to" is simply incorrect. Here she is referring to the doctrine of infallibility. This doctrine simply means that the pope, in union with the bishops of the church, "has the inability to err" concerning the teaching of faith and morality. That does not mean that if he gave you directions to Circle K, you couldn't end up at 7-eleven!

The meaning of the title "Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix, and Advocate," as applied to Mary, does NOT imply in any way, shape or form, that she is equivalent to God. The meaning is found in the identity of all who belong to Christ - that is, the dignity bestowed upon humanity to fully partake in the life of Christ and to imitate Him in all things. In this we participate "with" Him (i.e., the Latin prefix "Co") in the plan of salvation, and are not "equal to" Him, by any means. By the virtue of being the Mother of God, Mary participates most perfectly and fully in the Divine plan. Her role is, and has always been, simply to unite all of us to her Son, and is NOT that of "the divine secretary" that we must go through to get to God.

Now, concerning the apparitions of the Virgin to the world that Ms. Stein referred to [sic]. The central message of these apparitions is simple; that God does exist and loves us beyond our human capacity to comprehend, and that there is no offense too great for the infinite mercy of her Son, Jesus, to overcome. But, this gift can only be received if we turn back to God. The message is NOT one of doom, as Ms. Stein quoted, but does warn that our actions are leading us to a destruction that will be of our own doing. Her invitation will never be forced upon us, our will is respected at all cost, but we must choose now! This is the central theme of all the messages, from Lourdes and Fatima to Medjugorje and Scottsdale.

Ms. Stein's errors would have become easily apparent had she inquired of the Catholic Catechism and had read the messages of the Blessed Virgin instead of relying on secular media sources and the internet.

Mike Burkland
graduate student
Physics department