IMHO.....
We should love and respect Mary - for her great faith and for her role as the mother of our Lord. IMO, that (in and of itself) suggests to ME that we should not proclaim as dogmatic, uber-essential, important, necessary fact what is not shown to be true; in other words, truth should matter BECAUSE we love and esteem Mary AND because gossip is a violation of The Big Ten and generally bad policy (and of course, unloving and disrespectful). It amazes me and greatly disturbs me how some seem to be completely unconcerned as to whether what they shout about her is true or not, much less appropriate, much less documented to the level claimed (a matter of greatest importance and necessity possible). I know this is a very, very controversial stance (it has gotten me in GREAT trouble at a couple of websites..... indeed, I'm here in part because one website - one most of us were once VERY active act - issued me a ban of sorts because of this view). I just believe that truth SHOULD matter - even when we are shouting about Mary (no less than any other person; probably MORE than any other person!).... and especially when the issue is something ALL agree is normally a supremely private, intimate, personal issue that is RUDE to discuss in public (especially without CLEAR permission from the people involved)..... LOVE and RESPECT suggest that to ME (although I seem completely alone in that feeling).
Frankly, I don't KNOW whether Our Lady did or did not have private, intimate, marital relations after Jesus was born. God chose not to tell us that normally very, very private matter in His Scriptures to us..... it seems Mary chose not to tell us, Joseph chose not to tell us, Jesus chose not to tell us, all the Apostles chose not to tell us, no one who even could have met Mary chose to tell us - even if any of them know (except Mary, obviously). Maybe we don't NEED to know????????? Maybe it's NOT a matter of highest importance possible, greatest necessity of affirming possible as one denomination claims that it is?????????
I AM aware historically that the earliest Tradition was silence. Respectful, understandable, biblical, Apostolic silence. I AM aware, historically, that some men who had NO WAY TO KNOW this typically very, very private, personal matter eventually came to speculate on this matter. None of them seem to indicate why it mattered or seemed to care if it was true - but a few did speculate. Some that She did have sex.... some that she did not. This - for a FEW - came to replace the biblical, apostolic, original Tradition of respectful silence. And I AM aware that centuries after anyone could have gotten this bedroom tidbit from Mary and permission to make it public, there can to be a consensus that She did not ever have sex, although none of them seemed to care if that actually was true or why it mattered, but it did become the common speculation. Centuries later still, the TITLE "ever virgin" was used at an ecumenical council (around 7 centuries later) although the doctrine itself was never proclaimed or the status thereof - just a TITLE was used. Again, with no definition or with no indication of the status of this ("MOST important POSSIBLE" "MOST necessary to affirm possible") and with no indication (or concern) as to whether this actually was true or not.
I have NEVER (not once) indicated the speculation if false. Or true. My position is: I DON'T KNOW. I don't condemn ANY position - only that positions should be defending to the level claimed in a way that is suggested for others (a level playing field). For this stance, I have been flamed, berated, condemned, accused of hatred for Mary, accused of being "Anti-Catholic", accused of being "hateful," even banned by websites. I can't tell you the HORRIBLE private messages I've gotten over the years from Catholics (and one Orthodox) person for my stance.
And I have stated that ..... ONE of my deep concerns...... BECAUSE I love Mary..... is that Her heart breaks over this obsession some seem to have over something we all agree is supremely private and personal. This is the only website where I have stated that because I'm sure I would be permanently banned from any other if I posted that.
I'm back
- Josiah