[Natural Law]

"Catholic leadership corrupted the Ten Commandments by deleting the 2nd (Thou shalt worship idols), and splitting the 10th commandment into two to get back to ten."

Protestants often ignore the fact that the 10 Commandments are stated twice in the Bible, the first time in Exodus 20 and again in Deuteronomy 5. The Catholic Church in its enumeration, ensures that both are faithfully expressed.

Note, Catholics do not worship anything other than God. The prohibition against "graven images" in both Exodus and Deuteronomy, is not an absolute prohibition of religious art, but against objects believed to possess some divine powers unto themselves. Like the Old Testament instructions to decorate the Temple, statues of the saints and Mary are only images to glorify God help focus our minds on God. They are not objects of worship.

Peace be with you.

[muawiyah]

They are memes, no different in essence than the letters of the alphabet.

All art is symbolic representation. One person prays the rosary; another reads Bible verses. A blind man listens. A deaf man sees.

[LevinFan]

Then how do you explains relics?

[Iscool]

Note, Catholics do not worship anything other than God. The prohibition against "graven images" in both Exodus and Deuteronomy, is not an absolute prohibition of religious art, but against objects believed to possess some divine powers unto themselves. Like the Old Testament instructions to decorate the Temple, statues of the saints and Mary are only images to glorify God help focus our minds on God. They are not objects of worship.

Then why do you prone yourselves to and pray to these works of art???

If these images only glorify God, why do you ask these images or what these images represent to perform miracles and provide salvation for you???

I don't bow to these idols and I have no trouble focusing on God...Bowing and praying to these idols help you focus on who the idols represent, not God...