Catholics/Idol Worship

Advertisement

Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 2/28/2010


Question
God forbidden idol worship and other gods and angel worship. But Catholics are worship not only God, but worship Jesus, Mary the Mother of Jesus, Saints, Angels and also worship their idols. If this is correct Please explain . I am a Christian, but I confused with Catholics worship.

Answer
Hi, Samuel:
Thank you for the question, and may God bless you!
I am very happy for your Christian Faith and trust in Jesus Christ and His Saving Power.  You are correct that Catholics worship Jesus Christ as God the Son, the second Person of God, the Most Holy Trinity; however, we do not worship the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Saints, and the Angels.  We worship the One True God with them, as we join our prayers to theirs, and ask their prayers and intercessions for us in union with Jesus Christ.  The statues and other sacred images of the Saints are not idols, any more than a picture of a family member is an idol.  The image only points to the real person redeemed by Christ, and living and abiding in His Grace in Glory with Him.  There is a great resource on-line at www.catholic.com that you ought to check out.  It has a great search engine for looking up questions and discussions about many, many topics.  Stay strong in the Faith of Jesus Christ - and I pray that one day you will come into full communion within the Family of His Holy Catholic Church.

Fr. Timothy Johnson

Catholics

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Fr. Timothy Johnson

Expertise

A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.

Experience

I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.

Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)

Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology; MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary; 2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality. BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy; BA - Liberal Arts; AA - General Studies.

Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15. Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office. I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church. Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.