What IS good, and how do we determine it?

[abaris]

I just checked and the Dogma of the Assumption of Mary was formally proclaimed in Munificentissimus Deus on November 1st 1950. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assumption_of_Mary . Pius XII proclaimed it as a demonstration of Papal power, after WWII the Catholic Church was arguably at the strongest it had ever been since the glory days of Pius IX, hence why freethinkers like Paul Blanshard came out with books in the US during the 50's "warning" people about the increasing power the RC held over US society. The sexual revolution put an end to that of course.

But that Pius IX in 1854:

"We declare, pronounce and define that the doctrine which holds that the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the first instant of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace of the Omnipotent God, in virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind, was preserved immaculate from all stain of original sin, has been revealed by God, and therefore should firmly and constantly be believed by all the faithful...."