Hi, welcome to the forums.
Hi, sorry, I mean you no harm but just thought I’d let you know that we Christians do not recognize any “Catholic teachings” whatsoever. Christ and the Apostles are the FINAL AUTHORITY and all of us must submit to their teachings. Case in poiint …
First, thing. Let’s address this. Catholics are Christians. As for not recognizing any Catholic teachings whatsoever, that is incorrect, unless of course you are not really a Christian at all.
Since However, I do not believe that is the case, but you just have some severe misconceptions on exactly what Catholic Christians believe.
As for Christ and the apostles being the final authority, who is the final interpreter of what Christ and the apostles taught?
But the answer to this should be a thread to itself

I will be happy to start one if you so desire.
Concerning Prayers for the dead and Purgatory:
Our prayers cannot “help” the dead. Jesus said in Luke 16 that once we die, we will NEVER be able to get out of where we are sent, and there is no purgatory in between. Take a look…
Luke 16:25-26: But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this…those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.

Again, purgatory is a thread in and of itself. Maybe you should read what purgatory IS, and understand what the Catholic teaching of what purgatory is (and isn’t) before quoting scripture about whether or not purgatory is even possible? Below is a link to some basics. Why not take the time to read it and start a new thread on purgatory to discuss more?
Purgatory
Further, prayer TO dead people, as though they are gods, is called Idolatry. No dead person has ever earned the right to hear prayer or answer prayer. Christ alone earned this right on the Cross.
I agree. Prayer TO dead people as though they are gods is idolatry and is strictly forbidden by the Catholic Church. This is not what is happening with asking the Saints in heaven to pray for us.
Again, maybe you should learn what the Catholic Church actually teaches and does instead of saying things that we actually agree with and presenting a false dichotomy
Unfortunenately, my time is up, and I have yet to reach the end of this thread. If you have already started to research these things more thoroughly and said so, please accept my apologies for bringing it up again.
Until then, I encourage you to stick around and start asking QUESTIONS about what we believe instead of making statements of what you think Catholic Christians believe.
God Bless,
Maria