Immaculate Misconception

[Father-Ted]

Now then, here is a curious thing. It is Catholic dogma that Anne the Mother of Mary (Mother of Jesus) was a virgin which presents an interesting problem, if Anne was a virgin fertilized by Immaculate conception then Mary would be the daughter of god which means that Jesus was the result of immaculate incest and Mary as well as being his mother was also his sister.
If Anne conceived Mary parthenogenetically that is to say without having her ovum fertilized (by incest) then the chances are very high that Mary could also do the same as she would have the same genes as Anne. This would mean that Jesus was not the son of God as no Immaculate Conception was necessary.
So what is it to be ? Either God is an incestuous Deity and Jesus was his Son and Grandson or Jesus is just the result of parthenogenisis.
However can parthenogenesis produce male offspring? If not then the Immaculate Incest is the best option.
There are other options but they are so far fetched as to not be worth considering as they would imply that the Holy Bible is not entirely true and Christianity has been built on a fiction. I look forward to your suggestions for a solution to this conundrum.

[VHG]

I love the fact that your sign on is Father Ted.

I loved the way that comedy program trivialised the Catholic church and showed up all its faults and stupidities.

For a long time I have felt the catholic church is one evil organization.

[naomi24]

The Virgin Mary’s father is alleged to have been Joachim, husband of Anne, but since Mary is claimed to have been the ‘immaculate conception’, and hence born without sin, I’m not sure quite how Joachim managed it. It is considered to be a miracle birth so God certainly had a hand – or more – in it somewhere.

[starone]

Very interesting Father Ted.

[jno]

who ever said Anne was a virgin?

[RATTER15]

God works in mysterious ways!!

Thats all you need to know!

[RATTER15]

Good God, Im sounding like a theist!!

[starone]

It's all right RATTER I knew you had your fingers crossed behind your back and your tongue firmly in your cheek.

[jomifl]

I know that the catholic church believes in creation, but this is being just a little too creative..

[jno]

I repeat - the Catholic church does not teach that Anne was a virgin. No point in criticising its doctine if you don't get it right.

[jomifl]

jno she didn't have to be a virgin for god to cause the immaculate conception of Mary. Perhaps it was a 'dry run'. perhaps I should re-phrase that, perhaps not.

[jno]

just so, jomifl, but it's not what the OP says.

[chattykathy]

I agree with jno. I went to a school called St Anne's and it was never said she was a virgin - just the mother of Mary.
VHG - you (and I) might have views of certain horrendous priests but I don't think the Catholic church is an evil organisation - it generally preaches love & peace and that's what I wish you as well :-)

[elliemay1]

Jno is correct You have it wrong. The Immaculate Conception refers to the fact that Mary was conceived and born free from original sin.

[jomifl]

Ellie, could you explain what that means please?

[jno]

jomifl, the teaching is that we are all born with original sin, thanks to the misdeeds of Adam and Eve. All except Anne, who was spared by God's grace. I don't know the procedure by which this was done; but it doesn't mean she was a virgin. Mary, unlike her son, was conceived in the normal way.

[naomi24]

jno, See here.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01538a.htm

True, the church have since rectified that - but nevertheless, this woman apparently conceived without the physical intervention of a man.

[elliemay1]

Yes, of course. Catholic religion teaches that we are all born with what is called "original sin." That is why we are baptised, to get rid of this sin. Mary was specially chosen to be the mother of Jesus because she was conceived and born free from this original sin. Immaculate means clean and perfect. Conception comes from the word "conceive."

[jno]

actually, no, that's not quite right: Mary was conceived immaculately; I don't know quite where this leaves Anne herself. But Mary's was not a virgin birth - only Jesus's was.

[Wharton]

It never fails to amaze me how much non-catholics know about Roman Catholicism. Is there a non-catholic RC school somewhere?

[jno]

sorry, I was correcting myself there, not elliemay or naomi