I understand that Catholics are not praying to the statue but to what it represents but to be honest that is just playing with words.
No-one knows what Jesus or the Apostles look like so making a statue that represents God, how can we ? I will be told different but if i made a statue of a black man with dreadlocks and prayed to it and said its ok bcoz it represents Jesus would that be OK ? i think not. So then any-time we bow down in front of a statue we are bowing to an idol we say is represent of God so whether in your mind you say it inst the people who bow down to other statues say the same.
King David, king Solomon, did they build idols and worship them ? Yep. Was God pleased ? No He was well angry.
So before i post this, just because we say to ourselves our statue is not what we worship its what it represents is how we deceive ourselves and thus never get our prayers brought before the throne.
Jesus said we should go into our room and pray in secret, not in-front of statues or anything else, like the Pharisees or priests do as they have had there reward and want people to see them, but to do it in secret on our own, no idols or statues and then our Father in heaven will hear them and answer them.
Let me finish with saying all my life all my catholic friends and family rarely if ever get their prayers answered but myself who follows the teaching of the scriptures and Jesus has his prayers answered repeatedly which if you read Matthew you will see our Lord gives this promise to give us EVERYTHING we ask for in prayer. And before any idiot hits me with “so i can ask Go to give me riches and women” or anything else silly can i just say don’t bother me with your heathen rubbish, we pray and ask for things we need not what we want as myself want to follow Gods commandments as that’s were true life success is so go read your bible as our Lord and the apostles and the saints also command us.
9 They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.
10 Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?
11 Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.
12 The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.
13 The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.
14 He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.
15 Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.
16 He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:
17 And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.
18 They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.
19 And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?
20 He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?
21 Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.
22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
23 Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.
24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
26 That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:
27 That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:
28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.
FOLLOW JESUS NOT MAN. READ THE BIBLE FOR YOURSELVES AND ASK GOD TO TEACH YOU HIS COMMANDS. DO NOT RELY ON MAN/WOMAN OR YOUR PASTOR OR PRIEST. DO NOT TAKE MY WORD FOR IT READ YOUR GOSPELS AND NEW TESTAMENT AND HEAR IT FROM THE ONE TRUE GOD CHRIST JESUS, AMEN.
Of course, I am posting is just 'heathen rubbish. because I am questianing your posts.