The official web site of A.H. Lloyd

I mentioned this in my previous post, but there is something unsettling about the subset of Protestants who have an almost visceral hatred of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Of all the elements of orthodox Christianity to hate, that one's a real head-scratcher.

None of the Reformation churches questioned the perpetual virginity of Mary, nor did they in any way denigrate her role in salvation history.  Both Martin Luther and John Calvin venerated the BVM.  It is curious that it is generally an American thing to revile the Theotokos.

And they do revile her.  She is regularly disparaged as being nothing special, and it is widely held that she had at least a half-dozen children after Jesus was born.  I've actually seen Protestants ask why Catholics bother to pray to a dead woman who can't possibly hear them.

This is a bit rich coming from people who insist that when Meemaw dies, she'll go straight up to Jesus in heaven.

I think part of this antipathy stems from the belief that venerating the BVM (and the saints) is a form of idolatry and that any prayers that so much as mention anyone else are actually thefts from God.

I've even seen examples given of how hurtful the Rosary is because the majority of the prayers are to Mary, and only a few are to God.  This is of course nonsense on stilts because God (and Jesus, and the Holy Spirit) are in every prayer.  Do these people even know the text of the Hail Mary?

They also seem very unclear on what veneration is and how it is not worship.  To give a secular example, the American flag is an object of popular veneration.  Old Glory is treated with great respect, and there are specific rules for handling the national emblem.  Countless men have died to protect that flag from dishonor.  But is an object of worship?  Of course not.  Many of the same people who hate on the BVM would be moved to violence if the Stars and Stripes was defiled.

That is exactly how Catholics (and many other Christians) feel about the BVM, saints, and holy icons.  They are potent symbols, and as such are treated with respect, but they are not objects of worship.  No one prays to Old Glory.

From a spiritual warfare perspective I find it fascinating, because what these nominal Christians are standing side-by-side with Satan and his minions.  That two groups who most want to smash statues of the BVM are these Protestants and the minions of the devil.  There's an old Romanian proverb: "If you're wrestling with the devil, at least you know you aren't walking at his side."  These people are fellow travelers with Satan.  

I suppose I may as well link to my review of Brant Pitre's defense of the Blessed Virgin, but that's almost beside the point.  

As I said earlier, in the American religious marketplace, there's a clear need for brand identification and differentiation.  One can't start a thriving multi-million dollar ministry by being merely orthodox; there has to be something different, something to set you apart.  Attacking the Mother of God seems to fit the bill for some.