On June 4, 1997, L'Osservatore Romano, the official Vatican newspaper, published a brief statement from a theological commission which had studied proposals to define the dogma of the Virgin Mary as Mediatrix, Coredemptrix, and Advocate. The commission, which included both Catholic and non-Catholic theologians, recommended against a papal or magisterial definition of the dogmas at this time.

Following the publication of that opinion, newspapers around the world, including many diocesan newspapers, published articles on the story under headlines that proclaimed, "Vatican Against Marian Definitions." But Vox Populi Mariae Mediatrici, an international movement promoting the definitions, countered that the statements are "neither authoritative nor an official condemnation." The group also disputed some of the commission's conclusions.

The first steps in the controversy began with the call for a theological commission to discuss the proposals during the 12th International Mariological Congress, held in Czestochowa, Poland in August 1996. The panel of 15 theologians, including an Anglican, a Lutheran, and three Orthodox, was led by the president and the secretary of the Pontifical International Marian Academy, as well as the well-known Mariologist, Father Rene Laurentin of France.

The commission's conclusions were summed up in two paragraphs. They objected to the movement because the "titles, as proposed, are ambiguous," Vatican II did not seem to encourage such a definition, not enough theological work had been done in this area, and finally, it would present "ecumenical difficulties."

Dr. Mark Miravalle, a professor of theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville and the president of Vox Populi, while thanking the commission for their contribution to the discussion, vigorously defended the proposals. Answering the objection that the titles are ambiguous and lacking in theological clarity, Miravalle observed that Pope John Paul II, himself, has used the title "Coredemptrix" repeatedly during his pontificate, and the Second Vatican Council used the titles and roles of "Mediatrix" and "Advocate" in referring to the Blessed Mother. He added that the council fathers, who were careful to state that Vatican II was not a "dogmatic council," did not anywhere prohibit further Marian definitions, and in fact, encouraged further development in the area in the document Lumen Gentium, article 54.

In refuting the claim that further Marian doctrines could in some way be an obstacle for ecumenical activity, Miravalle cited the Holy Father's encyclical Ut Unum Sint as saying that, in ecumenism, "the whole body of doctrine as taught by the Church must be presented."

"The Blessed Virgin Mary must be seen not as the obstacle, but as the instrument and Mother of the ecumenical movement, remembering that no one unites the children of a family more than the mother of the family," Miravalle said in a statement issued on June 13. "Let us leave such decisions [of the appropriate timing of a definition] to the present Vicar of Christ, Pope John Paul II."

Miravalle also pointed out that Vox Populi Mariae Mediatrici (Voice of the People for Mary Mediatrix) has been endorsed by over 500 bishops, including 42 cardinals, and is supported by 4.5 million Catholics from over 155 countries. He carefully added that the intent is not a petition for change of some doctrine, but a prayerful request of the Holy Father to make explicit what has been implicit in Church teaching throughout her history, setting it apart from some petition movements agitating for change in Church doctrines and disciplines.

Appealing to Canon 212, Vox Populi recalled its roots in the Marian movements that petitioned Pope Pius XII, during the 1950s, to dogmatically define the Virgin Mary's bodily assumption in heaven at the end of her earthly life.

For Catholics who are interested in finding out more about these proposed definitions, Vox Populi recommended they contact Queenship Publishing Company, PO Box 42028, Santa Barbara, California 93140-2028 for copies of the booklet, "Mary: Coredemptrix, Mediatrix, Advocate."

[ Source: http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewrec.cfm?RefNum=5296 ]