Expert: Edward Bode - 6/15/2006

Question
I have a whole lot of questions but i will settle for one that pertains to the catholic church and which is of concern to me. I have seen and live near several catholic churches and they all do have a statue symbolizing Mary the earthly mother of God. I have also seen catholics kneel down and in prayer in front of this statue.

Now let me back up a bit The 2nd Commandment says:
Exodus 20:4-6: "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments."

From this its pretty clear to me that we are to pray to God and God alone and He will hear, because He has told us that:
If my people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked way, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.  II Chronicles 7:14

So kneeling or bowing down to any statue is non-bilical, and as a christian i am worried that millions and millions of Catholics do this everyday all around the world, and they do have the right to pray to their Father who is in Heaven.

What do you think?

One last question,i have also noticed on different programs or in discussions etc that there is a comparison and label between a Catholic and a Christian. On this very wesbite i came across an article titled "An Essay debate bw Catholics and Christians.Do Catholics not see theirselves as Christians?

God bless you..as i await your response

Answer
I cannot tell you what an individual Catholic thinks when  kneeling to pray before a statue of Mary or any other saint.  However, I can tell you what is the Catholic theology of this issue.
People adopt various postures in prayer.  Many bow, others prostrate themselves, many kneel down, some stand at attention.  The external attitude is a help to internal attention.
Catholics do not worship any statue.  As you say, that would be idolatry.  We kneel in an external attitude of prayer.  We do not pray to Mary as a god/godess but as the most favored [Lk 1:28]of God.  We pay her honor for the great priveleges that God bestowed upon her.  We see her as a role model in doing the will of God.  We also ask for her intercession with God for special graces;throughout history, many have found special graces from her intercession, so that practice must be pleasing to God.
The name, Christian, began in the first century shortly after the death of Jesus.  See Acts 11:26. Today, Christian is usually/often applied to any person who believes that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah through whom we obtain salvation [eternal happiness of heaven].  The word Catholic then is used to designate a person who belongs to the Roman Catholic Church.  So, Catholic is more specific than Christian, which is also said of Protestants and Orthodox.  I have heard of the phrase, Catholic Christian.
I hope that these thoughts, Tressy, shed some light on your questions.  If you would like further thoughts from me, please feel free to write again.
Best wishes.