Immaculata Conceptio: A Speculative Dogmatic Review in the Roman Catholic Church from an Evangelical Perspective

Abstract

The Roman Catholic Church in Indonesia tends to utilize Protestant Reformers' literature to support the Speculative Dogmatic Immaculata Conceptio (Mary conceived without original sin). This approach does not accurately represent the Reformers' perspectives or Protestant faith, creating an impression of distortion in Protestant doctrine and potentially causing tension in interfaith theological dialogue. This study aims to analyze the use of Protestant Reformers' views in Catholic theological arguments regarding Immaculata Conceptio, using a literature review method with a historical-critical approach. The findings indicate that some Roman Catholic academics have oversimplified and misinterpreted Luther’s quotations, leading to a misleading perception of his stance. Although Luther acknowledged Mary’s holiness, he still rejected the dogma later defined by Pope Pius IX in 1854. Therefore, the claim that Luther supported Immaculata Conceptio lacks a strong foundation in the history of Reformation theology.