History of Immaculate Conception in Timeline
The Immaculate Conception, a central tenet of Catholic dogma, asserts that the Virgin Mary was conceived without original sin. This belief, while debated among theologians for centuries, was formally declared as dogma in 1854 by Pope Pius IX. It's important to note that this dogma pertains to Mary's freedom from original sin, while the Council of Trent (1545-1563) had already established her exemption from personal sin.
1969: Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue on Mary
The Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC), formed in 1969, aimed to bridge the gap between the two churches but ultimately acknowledged their differing stances on the Immaculate Conception. While the Anglican church disagreed with the doctrine, Anglo-Catholics were permitted to hold it as an optional pious belief.
1990: Catholic-Lutheran Dialogue on Mary
In 1990, the Catholic-Lutheran dialogue released "The One Mediator, the Saints, and Mary," a statement that acknowledged ongoing disagreements between the two denominations regarding the Immaculate Conception, invocation of saints, and the Assumption of Mary. This followed seven years of discussions.