Romans 3: 23 goes for the entire human race, including mary.[/b]
As far as her being a less sinner. This is the problem with mankind. We think we are "less" sinners, so we are more ok with God. God says if we break one command we are found guilty of the whole law.
Imagine if we will a place where there is a line at a specific point,. Everything above the line is bright and full of light. Everything below the line is darkness. This is how God sees us.
The line is the mark God set (the law) of which one can be right with him under our own merit. Anyone who does not meet that mark is below the line, Now what do we see? Darkness. Everyone below deserve eternal damnation. Everyone above deserves eternal fellowship with God. As we can see, there is only one who made it above the Line (Christ), Sorry Mary did not make it.
No one below the line can climb to the top and put themselves over the line, they are doomed, Because that which makes it dark to God is sin.
In other words, unless the blood of Christ washes the sin, no one below the line will make it. No matter who they are. there is not more guilty or less guilty, there is guilty. and ALL are guilty. (including Mary) and are in danger of hellfire unless they are taken out of the darkness, and moved into the light by Christ. Only he has the ability to do this.
No where in scripture is it said mary was sinless. Scripture states the opposite. "For ALL have sinned and fall short" (this can not include original sin, for we did not commit origional sin) Again ALL would include Mary.
Physical death is a natural part of sin. But this is not what happened to Adam and Eve the "moment" they sinned, as God promised. They did die, they dies spiritually (spiritual seperation from God, as their relationship was severed We are ALL born in this state of spiritual death, And will remain in this state unless all our sin is paid for by Christ. There is no such thing as "mortal vs Venial sin" God said the fact of eating a mere fruit was worthy of death. James makes it clear if one breaks even the least of the law, he is guilty of the whole law.
Since ALL sin brings forth the penalty of death. (Spiritual) all sin can be said to be mortal (although in a spiritual not physical sense.)
Animals have no soul, so can not be saved, so are not even a part of the equation.
No one is judging Mary, They are just stating facts concerning here. Romans 3: 23 makes it clear she committed sin. If she did not commit sin, Then she is equal to Christ. and fulfilled the law. Which is against the word of God. (not to mention she would not need Christ as a savior. and she could have paid for sin, there would have been no need of Christ to come.)
As for her bring a virgin. She was at birth. But to say she remained would be an offense to her, and her Husband Joseph. Whom scripture makes clear consummated the marriage after the birth of her firstborn son.
Where in the bible does it say "such and such was the sin of Luke, Or Timothy, Or many other of the early church leaders where no mention of personal sin were ever mentioned.
We know Mary sinned Because scripture states ALL HAVE SINNED. Unless the bible lied. And I have no reason to believe it did.[/b]