Expert: Tom Schott - 6/3/2006

Question
I read this on-line and I wondered how to reply. It was a Non-Catholic saying that prayer to saints and the rosary is false.
HERE IT IS
3. Idols in Catholic Chapels and Homes. The Ten Commandments command in Exodus 20.3-5: "Worship no God but Me. Do not make for yourselves images of anything in heaven or on earth or in the water under the earth. Do not bow down to any idol or worship it, because I am the Lord your God and I tolerate no rivals." This command is emphasized in Revelation 21.8 which warns us: "But cowards, traitors, perverts, murderers, the immoral, those utho practice magic, those who worship idols, and all liars-the place for them is the lake burning with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."  

Answer
Mike,

I thought I had answered this question before. Maybe for some reason, the answer did not reach you.

This is one of the oldest chesnuts going, that Catholics worship idols because we have statues. We do not worship statues; we never have worshiped statues. But for centuries, literally, since the Reformation, some non-Catholic denominations have accused us of doing so.

Catholic statues are simply representations that help us turn our thoughts to the holiness of others. Catholics ask saints in prayer to intercede for them with the Lord. It is like asking a fellow Catholic to pray for you. Why? Because the body of Christ is not made up of just the living, but also of the dead who are already with the Lord. It is perfectly understandable to ask fellow members of the body of Christ to pray for us.

My advice to you, Michael, is to just let this subject drop. You do not want to get involved in a discussion about this for the simple reason that whoever is writing stuff like this is not going to be convinced by any argument, no matter how rational. You now understand the response yourself. Just let it go at that and save yourself a lot of grief. Believe me, I know. That's why I've made it a lifelong practice NEVER to argue Scripture with anyone. It is pointless to argue with those who already know all the answers. The truth is not going to make the slightest difference to them.

God bless you,
Deacon Tom