Mary was not co-redeemer, Vatican says amid spread of cult of the Madonna

Vatican Cracks Down on Exaggerated Worship of Mary, Bans 'Co-Redeemer' Title

In a bid to curb an exaggerated devotion to the Virgin Mary, Pope Leo has instructed Catholics to refrain from referring to her as having helped Jesus save humanity from damnation. A recent decree from the Vatican's doctrinal office, approved by the pontiff, states that Jesus alone saved humanity through his sacrificial death on the cross and that while Mary played a crucial role in paving the way for redemption, she was not a "co-redeemer".

The move comes as concerns grow over the spread of an unbalanced worship of Mary, often propagated on social media platforms. This has led to claims of apparitions, weeping statues, and self-styled prophets, which have been met with skepticism by some. The Vatican's crackdown is seen as a response to these trends, aimed at restoring balance to the Christian faith.

The "co-redeemer" title, previously used by some Catholic scholars, including popes Benedict XVI and John Paul II, has been deemed too self-centred and potentially misleading. Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, who oversaw the drafting of the decree, warned that such terminology could "eclipse the exclusive role of Jesus Christ".

The Vatican's move is likely to please progressive Catholics, who have long argued that Mary's devotion should not overshadow the central figure of Jesus Christ. Robert Mickens, a Rome-based expert, noted that while Mary is revered as the most exalted human being, she is not considered semi-divine.

The decree has sparked debate among church scholars and critics, with some hailing it as a necessary measure to counter the spread of misinformation on social media. Others have expressed concerns over the move's implications for Marian devotion and its impact on Catholic identity.

As the Vatican continues to tighten its grip on unorthodox practices, Pope Leo's decision reflects a broader effort to reclaim the essence of Christian faith in an era dominated by social media hype and superstition.

idk, is it cool that they're trying to stop ppl from thinkin mary did all the work for jesus? like shouldn't she get some credit 4 helpin out? on the other hand, i feel like they should just chill and let people be devoted to whoever they wanna be devoted to...mary or jesus or even a sandwich it's not like it's gonna hurt anyone

idk why they need 2 crack down so hard lol like who even uses that title anymore? its not like its gonna confuse ppl or something but i guess its better 2 be safe than sorry . the vatican's just tryna keep the peace, right? dont wanna see all those statues weeping and stuff gotta keep things real 4 christ (no pun intended)

idk about this new rule... i mean, mary is def a special lady and all, but does it have 2 b that extreme? like, can't we just say she helped out jesus instead of makin it sound like she's the one who saved humanity or somethin? this "co-redeemer" thing sounds kinda weird 2 me, like its tryna draw attention away from jesus. and whats up wit all these apparitions and statues breakin down? seems like just a bunch of hooey 2 me...

I think it's pretty cool that the Vatican is cracking down on the whole 'co-redeemer' thing. Like, yeah Mary was super important in Jesus' story but Jesus is still the big man. It's easy to get caught up in the drama of all this and forget what's really at stake - our relationship with God. And honestly, I've seen some pretty sketchy stuff on social media that's got nothing to do with actual faith...

I'm a bit worried about how this might affect people who are already feeling guilty or anxious about their own devotion. They might feel like they're not good enough or that they're not doing enough for God, and that's when things can get really messed up. But at the same time, I think it's great that the Vatican is trying to restore balance and get back to what's truly important.

It's also interesting to see how this move reflects the broader conversation about social media and faith... Are we using these platforms to deepen our connection with God or are we just getting caught up in the noise?

Ugh, whats wrong with ppl? cant even worship mary w/o gettin into drama . newsflash: mary was probs super cool 2 help jesus out, but she didnt do all the work on her own . it's not like we r trying 2 diminish jesus here (lol no). but come on, a little respect 4 marys role in our faith? cant ppl just chill about it? anyway, gotta love how the vatican's tryin 2 keep us on track

I feel like this move from the Vatican is kinda like what happened in that movie "The Matrix" when Morpheus freed Neo from his illusion... you know, like Mary wasn't really a co-redeemer but just helping Jesus out? Anyway, I think it's cool that Pope Leo is trying to bring some balance back to Catholicism. All this fuss around Mary can get pretty out of hand on social media ... people sharing pics of her apparitions and statues with weeping faces... it's like, girl, you're blessed but not a goddess . And I'm glad progressive Catholics are supporting this move because, let's be real, Jesus is kinda the OG savior .

I mean, I'm all for keeping things grounded and not getting too carried away with devotion, but this whole thing seems like it's being taken a bit far, you know? Like, I get that some people might be overdoing the Mary stuff, but shouldn't we just keep things respectful and not outlaw certain titles entirely?

And what's with the "co-redeemer" ban? Doesn't that just seem like a fancy way of saying 'Mary was nice, she helped Jesus out'? I mean, is it really that big of a deal to acknowledge her role in the story? It feels like we're being too strict and not embracing some nuance here.

I'm all for the Vatican trying to keep things real and authentic, but sometimes you gotta let people have their own faith journeys, you feel?

idk about this whole co-redeemer thing tho it seems like the vatican is just trying to control what ppl say about mary, but what about all the mary stuff that's actually based on real events & people? like mary magdalene & her role in early christianity? shouldn't we be exploring more of those stories too? i mean, i get it that some ppl take mary devotion way too far, but shouldn't we be focusing on the root of our faith rather than just tweaking the surface level language? and btw, where's the source on this 'pope leo' guy? is he even a real pope or what?

This is about time the Vatican sets boundaries around Mary worship... gotta keep Jesus front & center

The recent crackdown on exaggerated worship of Mary is a good thing, but it also makes me wonder if we're getting too caught up in balance . I mean, don't get me wrong, Jesus Christ's sacrifice should be the central focus, but shouldn't we also appreciate and honor Mary's role in human history? She's been a symbol of hope and devotion for so many people, especially during times of crisis .

I'm not sure if the "co-redeemer" title was ever a problem, but I guess it could be seen as confusing . The Vatican is trying to steer the conversation back towards Jesus, which is fair, but we shouldn't forget that Mary's story is deeply intertwined with his .

It's also interesting how this move reflects our times – social media, misinformation, and the need for balance . The Vatican's efforts to reclaim the essence of Christian faith are a reminder that, as followers, we should always strive to understand the teachings in their context .

you know what's wild ? i was just reading about the latest pokemon game and how they're introducing new types... did you hear that they're going to make some characters non-binary now? it's kinda cool, but also kinda weird... like, what does it even mean for a character to be "non-binary" in a world where pikachu is still just pikachu? anyway, back to the vatican thing... i guess this is all about finding balance and stuff. i'm more of a "balance between pizza and video games" kind of person myself .

"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

I think the Vatican is trying to send a message that just because something has been done a certain way for a long time, doesn't mean it's still correct. This is like when someone gets comfortable with being wrong and refuses to change. The fact that some people are still using the "co-redeemer" title without questioning its accuracy or potential implications is a reminder that we need to stay vigilant and critical. It's also interesting to see how this move might affect the way Catholics think about Mary and her role in their faith.

Wow this is so interesting. I was wondering what would happen if they cracked down on the Mary worship thing. It's crazy how it can get out of hand, especially with social media influencing people. The "co-redeemer" title seems like a no-brainer to me, it does sound kinda self-centered . But I'm sure there are some old-school Catholics who will be all mad about this change. What's next, gonna ban selfies of the Virgin Mary too?

omg i think this is a great move by pope leo! we need to keep things balanced in our faith, you know? mary was def important in jesus' life and all, but she wasn't the one who died on the cross for us the vatican's cracking down on these exaggerated devotion trends is like, much needed. i'm so tired of ppl spreading misinformation online let's focus on what really matters - jesus!

I mean, come on, can't we just stick to the basics? I'm so sick of these 'experts' trying to rein in our devotion to Mary . Like, what's wrong with showing some love and respect for the OG? We're not talking about making her a deity or anything, it's just acknowledging she played a part in Jesus' journey. And honestly, who doesn't love a good story about Mary and Joseph? It's all about balance, right? Can we please just focus on spreading the good news of Jesus Christ without getting too bogged down in theological semantics?

I'm not saying I disagree with the Vatican's move entirely... but can't they see that this is just fueling the fire for some people? Like, if we're not allowed to call Mary a co-redeemer, what's next? 'Can we please also ban our devotion to saints and ask for their intercession'? Give me a break. It's all about finding common ground and respecting each other's perspectives, you know?

And don't even get me started on the social media aspect... I mean, can't we just have a respectful conversation without it being amplified into an 'issue' ?

Ugh I'm so over these church drama updates . Can we please talk about something else? Like how this forum is still having major issues with moderation, I swear every other day someone gets banned for no reason . And don't even get me started on the "co-redemer" title, like who cares what the Vatican thinks? It's just gonna spark more debate and drama online, because that's what this forum loves to feed on .

And have you noticed how every time the church makes a big announcement, the forum is all over it, like 20 threads in one minute . Can't we just have some decent discussions without the Vatican being plastered everywhere? I mean, I know some of you are gonna defend this move and say it's about spreading misinformation, but let's be real, folks, we're all just here to argue with each other .

I swear if Pope Leo came to our forum and started discussing the finer points of co-redemption, I'd be like "finally, someone who understands me" . But no, he's stuck in the Vatican, making decrees that no one really cares about . Can we please just get back to the real issues... like how broken this forum is?

I'm low-key surprised they're finally clamping down on this Mary-worship madness . I mean, don't get me wrong, I love the Pope's intentions - we all know Jesus is the real MVP - but come on, this stuff's been going on for centuries and it's always been a thing of debate. The "co-redeemer" title was never meant to be taken literally, if you ask me.

I'm glad some Catholics are speaking out about how this could be misinterpreted, though. We don't want people getting all starstruck with Mary just 'cause she had a kid named Jesus . It's like, let's not forget the man himself is the Son of God, right? Anyway, it'll be interesting to see how this plays out - I'm rooting for a more balanced approach to faith, you know?