Different Traditions/Customs in Latino Churches?

[Kc906]

Hi All,

I have an ongoing discussion with someone who believes that the Catholic Church has Idols in the Church (Statues, Crosses, Stained Glass.) I know that we do not idolize these items, we do not think the Statue, Cross, or Images are “gods” that are prayed to as though they were alive, which is what scripture classifies as an Idol. An object, no matter what it is, is not an idol if it is not worshipped as though the object itself is divine (my understanding.)

The counter argument brought up was that in their opinion, many of the Latin Catholic Churches in Mexico, Middle America, and South America, appear to go a step further and treat these physical objects differently than we do here in the US. Their parents grew up in the Catholic Church in Latin America(1 is no longer Catholic, the other is non-practicing,) and this person states that these Catholics definitely pray to the Statues and Saints, and to the Cross.

I am not really sure how to defend this since I am not physically at these places and able to see these actions occurring, I can only go off of what the Church teaches and what I have personally seen and experienced. Their main argument is that some people do idolize these items (in their opinion,) and the Church allows this to happen and doesn’t condemn it. I attempted to show some reason and state that there is no group salvation in life, just because some people Idolize certain things like Money, Cars, etc. doesn’t mean that those people that have those objects and don’t idolize them are doing wrong. It is our job to correct those people and set them on a godly path with their life. They still don’t know why it’s customary in different cultures to treat these objects differently, and they blame the Church for allowing it to happen.

 

[ConstantineTG]

This is what the Seventh Ecumenical Council has to say about it:

“We define the rule with all accuracy and diligence, in a manner not unlike that befitting the shape of the precious and vivifying Cross, that the venerable and holy icons, painted or mosaic, or made of any other suitable material, be placed in the holy churches of God upon sacred vessels and vestments, walls and panels, houses and streets, both of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, and of our intemerate Lady the holy Theotoke, and also of the precious Angels, and of all Saints. For the more frequently and oftener they are continually seen in pictorial representation, the more those beholding are reminded and led to visualize anew the memory of the originals which they represent and for whom moreover they also beget a yearning in the soul of the persons beholding the icons. Accordingly, such persons are prompted not only to kiss these and to pay them honorary adoration, what is more important, they are imbued with the true faith which is reflected in our worship which is due to God alone and which befits only the divine nature. But this worship must be paid in the way suggested by the form of the precious and vivifying Cross, and the holy Gospels, and the rest of sacred institutions, and the offering of wafts of incense, and the display of beams of light, to be done for the purpose of honoring them, just as it used to be the custom to do among the ancients by way of manifesting piety. For any honor paid to the icon (or picture) redounds upon the original, and whoever bows down in adoration before the icon, is at the same time bowing down in adoration to the substance (or hypostasis) of the one therein painted. For thus the doctrine of our Holy Fathers, it was the tradition of the universal Church.

 

[Mike30]

Just an observation. After reading many similar threads I am amazed at how similar they sound. Not only in content, but in words used, the grammatical composition of the statements etc. Almost as if one person is writingthem.

Utterly amazing.

 

[Kc906]

Not sure if that was directed at me Mike but I can assure you that this is my first time posting on this topic that I can recall (and my only username as well.) I have read through a few other threads on the topic but I personally don’t recall anything related to certain people in the Church who “supposedly” misuse objects, which in turn could be considered Idolatry. I felt that my response to my friends question was accurate, but at the same time I thought they brought up a valid point and I was looking for other people’s opinions.

I have read the Churches stance on Idols and what is classified as an Idol. I’ve gone through the biblical references of God approved objects that he commands to be used/engraved, which of course are not Idols since Almighty God commanded them to be made. With that context, an Idol is much more than just an image or carving, because God does not contradict himself.

My apologies if this exact scenario with regards to Idols was discussed in another thread; i’ll continue to look for it.

God Bless