You can call it how you see it but from what I see a hear of how Catholics ‘practice’ their faith it’s a far far cry from Jesus as the sole mediator between God and man.
Priests, Popes, and Mary have no powers than the common man. The departed do no see nor hear us. Nor do we need them to when we all have a direct connection to Jesus Chris himself.
The Catholic Church teaches, in line with 1 Timothy 2:5, that “there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” This is foundational to our faith.
Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 618): “Christ is the one mediator... He is the only one who reconciles us with the Father.”
Any role of priests, popes, or Mary is subordinate to Christ’s unique mediation, as I’ll explain below.
You mentioned that priests, popes, and Mary have “no powers than the common man.” The Catholic Church agrees they do not have divine powers or mediate salvation like Christ. Their roles are distinct and serve to point us to Jesus.
| Role | Catholic Teaching | Biblical Basis | Historical Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Priests | Priests act in persona Christi to administer sacraments, not as mediators of salvation but as instruments of Christ’s grace. | John 20:22-23: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven.” | Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110 AD): The Eucharist is valid only under the bishop or his delegate. |
| Popes | The pope, as Peter’s successor, guides the Church in unity, not as a mediator but as a servant of Christ’s mission. | Matthew 16:18-19: “You are Peter... I will give you the keys of the kingdom.” | Clement of Rome (c. 96 AD): Intervened to maintain Church unity. |
| Mary | Mary intercedes as the Mother of God, always pointing to Christ, not mediating salvation herself. | John 2:5: “Do whatever he tells you.” | Council of Ephesus (431 AD): Affirmed Mary as Theotokos, emphasizing her role in salvation history. |
CCC 969: Mary’s intercession is “subordinate to Christ’s mediation” and exists to bring us closer to Him.
These roles do not rival Christ but reflect His work through the Church, His Body.
You stated that “the departed do not see nor hear us.” Catholic teaching, rooted in Scripture and tradition, holds that the saints in heaven, united with Christ, are aware of our prayers and can intercede for us, not as mediators but as prayerful members of the Church.
CCC 2683: The saints “share in the living tradition of prayer... by their intercession.”
Their intercession is like asking a friend to pray for you—effective but dependent on Christ’s mediation.
I agree that we have a direct connection to Jesus, as He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Catholics believe this wholeheartedly. Asking for the saints’ intercession does not deny this but reflects our unity as the Body of Christ.
CCC 957: Communion with the saints “does not weaken, but strengthens, our worship of God alone.”
Just as you might ask a pastor to pray for you, we ask the saints, who are closer to Christ, to join us in prayer.
I hear your concern that Catholic practices might seem far from Christ’s sole mediation. Some devotions, like the Rosary or venerating saints, can appear to elevate others above Jesus, especially in certain cultural expressions. However, the Church teaches that all devotions lead to Christ.
CCC 971: Devotion to Mary is “intrinsic to Christian worship” because it points to Christ.
The Council of Trent (1563) corrected abuses, clarifying that veneration of saints or images is not worship but a way to honor God. The Mass, the heart of Catholic worship, is entirely focused on Christ’s sacrifice (CCC 1346).
If some practices seem excessive, they reflect human expressions of faith, not the Church’s official teaching, which always upholds Christ as the sole mediator.
Caww, I hope this clarifies that Catholics share your belief in Jesus as the sole mediator, as taught in 1 Timothy 2:5. Priests, popes, and Mary serve in roles that support, not rival, Christ’s mediation. The saints’ intercession, biblically and historically rooted, enhances our direct connection to Jesus within the communion of the Church. If you’ve seen practices that seem to stray from this, they don’t reflect Catholic doctrine, which centers on Christ alone. I’d love to discuss further if you have questions!
Who better to explain it than their own church?
Salvation is obtained from... Mary?
https://www.biblelightinfo.com/mary.htm