Catholics Worship Idols

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Is anyone else getting annoyed with these three words? It feels like every time a Protestant realizes that I’m a Catholic that this is the FIRST thing to come out of their mouths. Honestely, I was uncomfortable with Catholic devotions to Mary and the Saints prior to comming into the Chruch, but I quickly got over it when I realized that I was the only one who even drew any attention to the 12 foot statue of St. Sylvester outside our Catholic Parish (hence, no one was “wallowing all over it” as one of my Protestant friends had described his father’s trip to Italy.) In fact, I was the only one to pay any attention to it at all, I was the only one with a God-complex about this statue!! Now that I AM Catholic, I find it greatly offensive that I am actually accused of worshipping something or someone I DO NOT worship, and neither does anyone in my Catholic Parish, or any Catholic I know!! How do you simply deny worshipping something or someone if you actually do worship them? I would studder, cry and blead to death before I deny worshipping Jesus, I can say “I do not worship Mary” a hundred times in a row!! I DO NOT WORSHIP MARY!! I DO NOT WORSHIP MARY!! I DO NOT WORSHIP MARY!! I DO NOT WORSHIP MARY!!
I honestely think that this is an incredibly immature accusation and is one that wasn’t even prevelant during the Protestant Reformation. The Cathechism and the core doctrines of our faith say that we worship God alone, there is NO REASON for ANYONE in Catholicism to think differently. Even Martin Luther prayed to Mary!! If you equate prayer to worship then there is something seriously wrong or lazy about your worship. Every prayer we pray to a Saint though is an INTERCESSORY prayer, in other words, we ask to be prayed for, not for them to answer our prayer themselves!! It is encouraged in the Bible to pray for one-another, even Protestants do that!!

I want every single Catholic who reads this thread to write, “I am a Catholic, and I worship God alone” to get the point across to our Protestant brothers and sisters.
 
It doesn’t bother me. I don’t get upset at those who don’t know better and who are benighted by ignorance about the Catholic faith. Protestants do not have the full teachings of the Church and they lack full knowledge of Christianity.

It’s just another moment to evangelize and teach them about latria (worship of God), hyperdulia (elevated veneration of Mary), and dulia (veneration of the saints).
 
Yes, it does get tiresome. :rolleyes:

But they will continue to insist we worship idols…guess it their problem, not mine. 🤷
 
MrZetterlund said:
Is anyone else getting annoyed with these three words? It feels like every time a Protestant realizes that I’m a Catholic that this is the FIRST thing to come out of their mouths. Honestely, I was uncomfortable with Catholic devotions to Mary and the Saints prior to comming into the Chruch, but I quickly got over it when I realized that I was the only one who even drew any attention to the 12 foot statue of St. Sylvester outside our Catholic Parish (hence, no one was “wallowing all over it” as one of my Protestant friends had described his father’s trip to Italy.) In fact, I was the only one to pay any attention to it at all, I was the only one with a God-complex about this statue!! Now that I AM Catholic, I find it greatly offensive that I am actually accused of worshipping something or someone I DO NOT worship, and neither does anyone in my Catholic Parish, or any Catholic I know!! How do you simply deny worshipping something or someone if you actually do worship them? I would studder, cry and blead to death before I deny worshipping Jesus, I can say “I do not worship Mary” a hundred times in a row!! I DO NOT WORSHIP MARY!! I DO NOT WORSHIP MARY!! I DO NOT WORSHIP MARY!! I DO NOT WORSHIP MARY!!
I honestely think that this is an incredibly immature accusation and is one that wasn’t even prevelant during the Protestant Reformation. The Cathechism and the core doctrines of our faith say that we worship God alone, there is NO REASON for ANYONE in Catholicism to think differently. Even Martin Luther prayed to Mary!! If you equate prayer to worship then there is something seriously wrong or lazy about your worship. Every prayer we pray to a Saint though is an INTERCESSORY prayer, in other words, we ask to be prayed for, not for them to answer our prayer themselves!! It is encouraged in the Bible to pray for one-another, even Protestants do that!!

I want every single Catholic who reads this thread to write, “I am a Catholic, and I worship God alone” to get the point across to our Protestant brothers and sisters.
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It just makes me laugh
 
Those three words that annoy you so much can be countered by just two…

PROVE IT

These two words challenges the accuser to prove - from official Catholic teaching - that Catholics worship idols. This of course they cannot do.

Then follows the possible argument that some Catholics DO go overboard with devotion to saints, Mary or whatever…But that is a matter of individual error and does not negatively effect the Church’s teaching…

So I say that - every time you here someone say those three words…counter them with these two…PROVE IT.

Peace
James
 
What gets me about this is the attitude or the statement “You worship idols!” instead of asking the simple question “Do you worship idols?” It’s like “You’re ROMAN Catholic, we’re holy catholic”. 😦
 
I have been teaching religion to high school age children this year. I have emphasized to the extreme that the clear way to speak of praying to the saints is to say that we ask them to pray (or intercede) for us. Although we often say “I will pray to Mary to help,” I tell them that the wording will help non-believers to understand that we are asking Mary to pray for us.

It may not do any good, but I’m trying to teach them to emphasize that our prayer to Mary and the saints is that they will pray for us.
 
When I was in 4[sup]th[/sup] grade, I figured out something shocking:

Protestants (in general) don’t believe in the Trinity.

Really, this is the only natural conclusion when confronted with the fact that Catholics only worship the Triune God and the accusation that Catholics “worship beings other than God.”

(of course, I no longer think Protestants deny the Trinity)
 
Sheesh, that is so NOT the spirit of Vatican II.

We worship felt banners now 😉
 
Barry_Gabriel said:
What gets me about this is the attitude or the statement “You worship idols!” instead of asking the simple question “Do you worship idols?” It’s like “You’re ROMAN Catholic, we’re holy catholic”. 😦
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Then you respond, “We’re the Holy Roman Catholic Church!” 😛
 
I understand what you are saying but it doesn’t bother me. Those who say this just do not know what they are talking about or they have been talking to the wrong people.

After all, I have run into Catholics who do seem to do so. They push Mary and Fatima and the Rosary as if every Catholic must be doing these private devotions.
Splagchnizomai said:
Then you respond, “We’re the Holy Roman Catholic Church!” 😛
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I can’t respond that way. I am from the Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic Church, though I am also in a Roman Catholic religious order.
 
ByzCath said:
I understand what you are saying but it doesn’t bother me. Those who say this just do not know what they are talking about or they have been talking to the wrong people.

Good point… but the way they usually say it is that I should also know that I’m Roman Catholic and that they are Holy catholic. Besides, I’m not an Italian living in Rome 😛

After all, I have run into Catholics who do seem to do so. They push Mary and Fatima and the Rosary as if every Catholic must be doing these private devotions.

I can’t respond that way. I am from the Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic Church, though I am also in a Roman Catholic religious order.
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ByzCath said:
I can’t respond that way. I am from the Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic Church, though I am also in a Roman Catholic religious order.
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“We’re the Holy Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic Church in communion with the Holy Roman Catholic Church!” 😉
 
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