Why is this not idolatry?

[Hisalone]

Last week I went to visit my father in a nursing home. When I got there I asked him if there is anywhere he wanted to go? He said to church so I took him to the church we went to when I grew up but sadly it was locked even though it was the middle of the day. A gardner saw us and said we could go to the perpetual adoration chapel which was open.
My father and I went inside where the monstance was front and center with little kneeling pews and maybe 4 other people there. Im not going to argue about the monstance and the whole getup although I do believe it to be idolatry however I understand that Catholics believe it is not idolatry because of their beliefs.
The point of this post is there was one man maybe forty who had a dozen or so pictures of everything to the holy face of Jesus, Divine mercy, Virgin Mary. This man held these pictures as if they cards up to his face as he prayed, he also put some of the cards on the seat in front of him spread out so he could see them as he prayed at times he touched the pictures to his forehead.
I have been to many of the Catholic devotions throughout the years and there are some folks like this man tat are definitely over the top. At no time have I seen anyone correct these folks and if pictures of these types of beaviors are posted virtually every Catholic will defend this beavior.

Why?

 

[Rocky]

Being far away from my family, I display their pictures and often hold the pictures in my hands, and even kiss the pictures sometimes. Especially I do this when I think of my deceased father. It makes me feel closer to him. By your definition I guess I am practicing idolatry because I also pray at the same time.

 

[ibkc]

Because the man is not worshiping the images themselves, it is not idolatry. He is using the images to focus his prayers. It is simply a method of praying that is different from yours. No more, no less.

 

[Namesake]

Because the man is not worshiping the images themselves, it is not idolatry. He is using the images to focus his prayers. It is simply a method of praying that is different from yours. No more, no less.

One would expect that kissing a picture is paying much attention to the picture, otherwise why kiss it? Is that worship of the picture? How can it not be? Of course it’s idolatry!

 

[jmcrae]

One would expect that kissing a picture is paying much attention to the picture, otherwise why kiss it? Is that worship of the picture? How can it not be? Of course it’s idolatry!

Why couldn’t it be love for the person in the picture?

 

[jay29]

One would expect that kissing a picture is paying much attention to the picture, otherwise why kiss it? Is that worship of the picture? How can it not be? Of course it’s idolatry!

We know the picture itself can’t do anything!

 

[ibkc]

One would expect that kissing a picture is paying much attention to the picture, otherwise why kiss it? Is that worship of the picture? How can it not be? Of course it’s idolatry!

No, not necessarily. Some people just find that visuals help them to focus spiritually. If a person declares that a statue or a photo contains the spirit or soul of a person or deity, yes that would be idolatry, but I have never heard a Catholic say such a thing.

Please try to keep an open mind and realize that because something is outside of your experience, it isn’t necessarily wrong. Realize that it is just as likely that you don’t understand what’s happening, or don’t know the whole story.

 

[Namesake]

Why couldn’t it be love for the person in the picture?

He kissed the picture, I assume a photo. He didn’t kiss the person. He is worshiping the picture. Not that there is anything wrong with that. It’s really no different than worshiping the host. The host isn’t Jesus. Or do you believe that the host *is Jesus?

 

[jmcrae]

He kissed the picture, I assume a photo. He didn’t kiss the person. He is worshiping the picture.

No, he isn’t. He is thinking about the person, and expressing love for that person.

Not that there is anything wrong with that. It’s really no different than worshiping the host. The host isn’t Jesus. Or do you believe that the host *is Jesus?

Yes, the Host is Jesus. **Body and blood, soul and divinity.
**

 

[jay29]

He kissed the picture, I assume a photo. He didn’t kiss the person. He is worshiping the picture. Not that there is anything wrong with that. It’s really no different than worshiping the host. The host isn’t Jesus. Or do you believe that the host *is Jesus?

I love the smell of incense at mass. Does that mean I worship the incense?

 

[twosweetgirls]

He kissed the picture, I assume a photo. He didn’t kiss the person. He is worshiping the picture. Not that there is anything wrong with that. It’s really no different than worshiping the host. The host isn’t Jesus. Or do you believe that the host *is Jesus?

So, you would ascribe the power of God to your own self and judge what is in that man’s heart?

 

[JRKH]

One would expect that kissing a picture is paying much attention to the picture, otherwise why kiss it? Is that worship of the picture? How can it not be? Of course it’s idolatry!

Perhaps the person isn’t kissing the picture at all, but rather kissing the object of the picture.

I note from your profile that you are “unsure” of your religion. That being the case, and with all due respect, once you are sure of your religion you may have a basis for saying someones action is, or is not, idolatry.

Peace
James

 

[flyersfan1088]

The host isn’t Jesus. Or do you believe that the host *is Jesus?

With over 650 posts you’ve been here awhile. I’ll assume you’ve seen threads on the Real Prescence. In any of those threads, have you ever seen a single Catholic change their belief on this due to protestant arguements? Do you really think you’ll have something to add that won’t be immediately shot full of holes?

 

[hasikelee]

Wow, people really lose their sense of reality sometimes.

Ever had a girlfriend? I hope you didn’t put a picture in your wallet or car or by your bedside, you girlfriend worshipper!

In fact, you must be on the up and up. Surely you don’t have any photos of anyone in your house. I bet you are anti-camera.

And I guess little Johnny kissing a photo of his dad who is in Iraq is obviously just a photo worshipper. He couldn’t possibly be missing his dad.

Some people grew up without enough :hug1: :hug3: :console: :grouphug:

 

[Namesake]

So, you would ascribe the power of God to your own self and judge what is in that man’s heart?

Of course not! The question was fairly asked and I assume that an answer is OK. Maybe I am wrong about an answer. Maybe it was rhetorical.

 

[twosweetgirls]

Of course not! The question was fairly asked and I assume that an answer is OK. Maybe I am wrong about an answer. Maybe it was rhetorical.

Oh, I meant no offense. I just wonder how people can go about patently judging another person based only on what they see–that is, they have no clue as to the other person’s relationship with God, and shouldn’t be pronouncing judgement (in this case, what you said about “he was worshipping the picture”) without searching that person’s heart. And only God can do that.

Hope that made sense.

 

[dolphinlove]

Of course not! The question was fairly asked and I assume that an answer is OK. Maybe I am wrong about an answer. Maybe it was rhetorical.

I think some people might get a little upset cause we constantly have ppl coming on here accusing us all the time about idolatry, and having to explain it again and again.
But, bottom line is, we do not worship idols, only God. And as explained, when we kiss a picture of a beloved one, we are not worshipping them, its just in rememberance of that person and showing that we still love and care for that person deeply.
The only ‘being’ that catholics will ever worship is God.

 

[Namesake]

Oh, I meant no offense. I just wonder how people can go about patently judging another person based only on what they see–that is, they have no clue as to the other person’s relationship with God, and shouldn’t be pronouncing judgement (in this case, what you said about “he was worshipping the picture”) without searching that person’s heart. And only God can do that.

Hope that made sense.

And if he was dancing naked around a fire shouting into the air and waving huge feathered wings and tossing offerings on the fire…would you have an opinion as to his worship? Or are you all accepting?

 

[Namesake]

The only ‘being’ that catholics will ever worship is God.

That is patently untrue. I know many Catholics who really do worship the statues. I understand that they are not to do that. Regardless, Catholicism lends itself toward idol worship. It’s so common.

 

[graceandglory]

One would expect that kissing a picture is paying much attention to the picture, otherwise why kiss it? Is that worship of the picture? How can it not be? Of course it’s idolatry!

“Paying much attention to” something isn’t the definition of worship.

Kissing something isn’t the same thing as giving homage to something.

Even honoring something isn’t the same thing as worship.

However, IMHO, I think there are some people in the world who misunderstand their own Catholic faith, and attempt to worship things. But that would be a sin, and isn’t Catholic.