You don’t hear the dogma of the Immaculate Conception come up on cable news very often!
CNN anchor Chris Cuomo was talking with Rep. Matt Gaetz (R- FL) about the latest political scandal, when Cuomo asked Rep. Gaetz about an interesting analogy he had made: that “this was the biggest coincidence since the Immaculate Conception.”
“What are you talking about?” Cuomo asked Rep. Gaetz.
After talking about the scandal, Rep. Gaetz explained, “Look, I was making a point that this is an absurd coincidence.”
Sensing that Rep. Gaetz didn’t know what the Immaculate Conception was, Cuomo pressed him on what it meant. “The Immaculcate Conception? It’s obviously a religious doctrine that deals with the Christian faith,” Rep. Gaetz replied.
When pressed again about what the doctrine was, Rep. Gaetz shot back, “Look, did you really bring me on to discuss my religious views, Chris? I’m a Christian, I believe the Immaculate Conception is how Jesus was born.”
This, of course, is a common misconception. The dogma of the Immaculate Conception is actually regarding the miraculous conception of Mary without Original Sin.
“The Immaculate Conception is not how Jesus was born,” Cuomo corrected. “It was Mary’s conception. It was the mother’s conception without Original Sin. It was not the conception of Jesus. Facts matter, congressman.”
Here’s the video:
What do you make of their exchange? Let us know in the comments!
[See also: 5 Myths About Mariology that Too Many People Still Believe (Maybe Even You!)]
[See also: Is the Popular Christmas Song “Mary, Did You Know?” Heretical?]