I came across this encyclical from Pope Benedict... I have only skimmed it but the last section caught my attention in the way the Catholic church uses scripture to back up their doctrine on Mary as an intercessor (as well as all "saints"). He makes a point of highlighting the dialogue "Behold your mother" (John 19:27). Is there really more to this exchange than Jesus simply wanting John to take care of his mother in her old age? Or is this just an example of twisting the meaning of scripture to fit a church doctrine? This is a link. --Ron Cicerchia (Marietta, Georgia)
The Pope is stretching it big time! There is absolutely nothing in the text to support Mariolatry, though I can see how Catholics from the 5th century on would use John 19 and other verses to support their views on Mary.
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