Incremental approaches are how "Fabian" politics work. There exists debate about where and how such approaches can work. Interestingly, this was the approach of the moderate slavery-abolitionists - including the Papacy culminating, perhaps-ironically, in Pius IX.
There is an anecdote in that best Gospel of which I know, in which Christ Jesus bar-Maryam heals a blind man. At first, the blind man only sees dimly, blurrily. Then, Jesus runs him through a second dose. Now the man can see fully. This anecdote, I think, did not quite get into Matthew or Luke, and I doubt "Peter" had it either if we accept that (I don't).
Stages of faith also appear to be common with us mortals. Leaving Fowler aside: Augustine accepted Christianity at an intellectual level first. He only came to love God, later: we often see a progression from intellectual acceptance to moral and spiritual metanoia.
All this assumes we are not born in sainthood. It somewhat breaks down with Mary. For the selfsame Pius IX, Mary was conceived Immaculately. No "character-arc".
Must she be so conceived?
Well... maybe. But Christians need better arguments than, "because an incompetent Pope said it".
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