Expert: Fr. Michael - 2/20/2011

Question
Father, I have doubts about Church and idolatry, it seems to me that everybody is doing idolatry and that the Church is encouraging it. People are worshiping cross, pictures and statues, host, is the Church wrong or I am missing something?

Answer
Those who "worship" those things are idolaters.  The Church, however, has never encouraged the "worship" of images.  In fact, it has condemned such "worship" as idolatry.  "Venerating" an object is something quite different.  That is to give honor to what it represents.  Thus, the Cross is not worshipped, but merely venerated for its recollection to us of the supreme sacrifice of Calvary.