Mary in the Dock, Part 1: Is Devotion to Her Idolatry? (#458)

In the powerful opening episode of the new series Mary in the Dock: Ordinary or Extraordinary?, host Greg Smith puts the Catholic practice of Marian devotion on trial. Are prayers like the Hail Mary and the Rosary, asking for Mary’s intercession, and venerating her images really idolatry — or are they biblical, Christ-centered honor for the Mother of our Lord? Greg gives the strongest Protestant objections a full, fair hearing (sola scriptura, the one-mediator objection, and claims of late pagan corruption), then delivers a robust Catholic defense rooted in Scripture, the Greek of the New Testament, and the earliest Church Fathers — including evidence of Marian prayers from the third century, long before Constantine. Listeners serve as the jury in this conversational yet intellectually sharp courtroom-style discussion that tackles one of the most common stumbling blocks for Protestants investigating Catholicism. Whether you’re a curious non-Catholic, a Protestant pastor wrestling with these issues, or a cradle Catholic wanting to explain the faith more clearly, this episode will challenge you to decide: is Mary simply an ordinary woman, or the extraordinary New Eve the Church has always proclaimed? SUPPORT THIS SHOW Considering Catholicism is free and ad-free for everyone, thanks to listeners like you. Become a patron for a Q&A video every other week, the Podcast Albums (50 topical playlists), Deep Dive courses, and a monthly live session: https://patreon.com/consideringcatholicism Or give a one-time or recurring gift with PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5LGR5E89Z7Y2Y CONNECT WITH US • Website & contact form: https://consideringcatholicism.com • Email: [email protected] • Leave a comment on Patreon (I read every one!) RATE & REVIEW If you enjoy the show, please leave a rating (and even better, a review) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen — it really helps new listeners find us. SHARE THE SHOW Know someone who’s curious about Catholicism? Send them a link or share an episode on social media. Thank you! Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat.