Mary without sin

[henryl]

Tertullian: “God alone is witout sin. The only man who is without sin is Christ; for Christ is also God” (The Soul 41:3 A.D.210)
My question is how does Mary fit into this if she is also without sin?

 

[Della]

Considering we know this about Tertullian (from the Catholic Encyclopedia):

His extant writings range in date from the apologetics of 197 to the attack on a bishop who is probably Pope Callistus (after 218). It was after the year 206 that he joined the Montanist sect, and he seems to have definitively separated from the Church about 211 (Harnack) or 213 (Monceaux). After writing more virulently against the Church than even against heathen and persecutors, he separated from the Montanists and founded a sect of his own.

I’d say his opinions are just that–his opinions. Besides, it is quite dangerous to take quotes out of context to negate or debate various aspects of Catholic teaching. It gives us a skewed reading of what the author wrote.