The reunification of the Anglican Church with the Catholic Church on issues of Marian dogma is a welcome step towards Christian unity, and a recognition of the key figure of Mary in the Gospels and as an example for all. In these days when reconciliation seems to be the key thing lacking from world politics, it's good to see the two Churches getting their act together - but there will always be grumpy theologians who beg to disagree. The important thing at this time is for Archbishop Rowan Williams to give the Anglican Church clear leadership and state where the church stands on Mary.
John Thomason, LeicesterAs there is no evidence for either of the two recent dogmas concerning Mary which have been announced by the papacy, most Anglicans prefer to give due honour to her, but decline to go beyond what the New Testament has to say about her. It is not a matter of choice for Roman Catholics, however: they are required to accept these assertions, as articles of faith. This is where the two churches inevitably part company, since one of the very foundational principles of Anglicanism is that articles of faith must be firmly grounded in biblical evidence. If compulsion is removed by the Holy See, then some progress may be possible. Vincent Coles, London
Many members of the Anglican church already accept these Marian doctrines. I am not sure what the new document is saying - must we Anglicans accept them now (in which case, I resent the implied compulsion) or are we merely to acknowledge that to Catholics they are true and valued dogma (which most of us are content to do, and usually have done)? We protestant Christians have always been anxious about any doctrine that raises Mary to a God-like status, though we can recognise that being the channel by which God came into the world she had, or attained, a unique position among mortal beings.And although, for instance, I am not likely (on earth) to adopt the belief that Mary is Queen of Heaven, I shouldn't be surprised, when I get there, to find it was so. John Small, Harrow
Either the lady was assumed into heaven or she was notI If you believe that this did not take place, then you must also disbelieve in the infallibility of the Pope. You can still believe that Catholics are nice people and are following some of the important teachings of Jesus, but unity is out of the question. On the other hand if you believe that the Assumption did take place, then you need to ask why disputes over this and related doctrines were ever allowed to get to the point of schism. Malcolm Arthur Maclean, Bradford
While it is important that the interpretation of Christian doctrine is always examined and debated, I despair at the failure of the leading Christian churches to stabilise their relationship on the basic foundations that the Bible - and in particular, the New Testament - provides. As a Protestant, I place the mother of Jesus, Mary, on the highest possible level where my faith is concerned and I am prepared to leave the question of where exactly that is until I meet my maker. A Catholic is a fellow traveller on the road to salvation, welcome and respected. If we do not share the same view on every dot and comma when examining our beliefs, what does it matter when we have so much in common? The failure of Churches to accept this leads to confusion and non-acceptance in the general population, the very people who need the example of brotherhood, cohesion and faith in Jesus Christ. Keith Downer, London
Anglicans are out of touch in not accepting the dogmas of the assumption and immaculate conception. These have been standard beliefs of the major Christian churches for centuries. For Anglicans to accept these beliefs as valid would be a wonderful step forward for unity. The ancient saying within the Catholic Church has always been "To Jesus through Mary". It has always worked but as St Louis Marie Montfort wrote, if you don't want to go by this road it doesn't matter as the important point is to accept Jesus. I wish the Anglicans well. Richard Dowse, Leicestershire
I honestly do not and cannot understand the Protestant objection to the person of the Virgin Mary. After all, it is not only the Catholics who hold her with such esteem, but also the Eastern Orthodox. She was the mother of Jesus Christ and as such should be treated with respect and reverence.Contorary to the view held by some, we do not worship the Holy Mother, but ask her to intercede on behalf of her son.We ask her to pray for us. Christopher Jaggo, Middlesbrough
The idea that a more tolerate approach towards the Roman Catholic view of the Virgin Mary by the Anglican Church will allow greater ties between the two religious establishments is laughable – there are far more thorny issues to keep the two apart: women ordained to the priesthood and women bishops, for example. Why do people want unity anyway? The Gospels are quite content to show the twelve disciples squabbling and in the Acts of the Apostles, Peter and Paul are seen to do a splendid job of disagreement and disunity. The fact of the matter is that the great strength of the Church of England – perhaps, as opposed to the Anglican Community as a whole – is that it has the stomach for such disagreement and diversity of opinion and its members are at liberty to question and debate all manner of the Church’s traditions, teachings and biblical assertions. Therefore, if the Church’s leaders do offer the opportunity of a more tolerant view of Roman Catholic teachings a propos the Virgin Mary it ought to be done in the traditional atmosphere of this well-tested freedom that has served it so well and allowed many an Anglican Priest to hold Mary is the highest esteem and hold the belief of her Assumption as true. There is nothing new in it. Patrick Coffey, Seaton Torpoint
Despite the protestations of many Anglicans, our Church's doctrine is enshrined in the Book of Common Prayer which specifies clearly the immaculate nature of Our Lady. The sooner we reunite with Rome the better. Kenneth Kenrick, Stockport
Mary didn't choose to be the mother of Jesus, she was chosen. Being chosen is, in this case, an honour, but not to the extent that we look to her before we look to Jesus Christ, her son. Mary was created, chosen and blessed to carry the child of God, her task, to be part of life's experience for the son of God. In today's society, it is difficult enough to concentrate on what Jesus stood for. To be asked to divert out attention to Mary would be a distraction and counter productive, in a very sceptical world. Brian Taylor, Stanmore
Mary was reborn a virgin in 1854 when the dogma of her being free of the taint of original sin was accepted as "of faith". That is to say, it was her birth that was virginal, not that of Jesus. This was a bit of spin-doctering to clear up any misunderstanding regarding her suitability to carry Christ. In the invening 150 years this has become so corrupted in everyone's mind that any arguument is a bit nonsensical. The misogeny of the Catholic church, as epitomised by the concept of sex tainting women, is one "artificial division" between the Catholic and Anglican churches that the latter would do well to emphasise. Immaculate as a synonym of viriginal, at least as far as women are concerned, is way too much of a leap of faith for most reasonable people. Derek Cockshott-Smythe, Brighton
The teachings of the Catholic Church manifest the well-established tradition of many other Christian communities. It is a shame that this issue has been an obstacle to Christian unity for so long. I am deeply convinced that the mother of God would be pleased to see that Christians of different denominations were united for her cause. It is surprising that some Anglican theologians would like to stick to artificial divisions. Marcin Perzanowski, Reading
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