Thanks for your answer...a few random thoughts...
Someone mentioned John the Baptist earlier in the thread...He was killed far before any of the NT was written and Peter/Paul died before the last of the NT was written as did all but John of the apostles...there could have been mention I guess of their relics, but there isn't which is neither here nor there...I suppose it's not absolutely necessary in respect to the gospel of Christ and so it wasn't included. Maybe that's why there is no mention anywhere of Mary's death/assumption/immaculate conception etc? I don't know and frankly I am not worried about the reasons why, it's not my place to worry about such things since God has put things in their place the way He has seen fit.
I don't know about you, but I've grown tired of this debate...you either believe the tradition or you don't. The wayyyyy more important thing is that all of us focus on spreading the Gospel of Christ to all people. Me thinks these threads take us all away from that...but I digress...
Thank you for your information...God Bless...
"I suppose it's not absolutely necessary in respect to the gospel of Christ"
You are correct. One does not have to ever have even heard of relics and can still be a good Christian (whether Catholic or not). It, like the rest of creation, is meant by God to help bring us to Him. Just as we can do without one specific piece of creation (say, frogs) and still survive, relics is in the same category.
The Catholic Church has what is called a heirarchy of beliefs. As you stated, there are some things which are not very important, and others which are critical to our faith in being Christian. Belief in angels is a dogma of the faith - without error - but it certainly is not in the same category as Christ's resurrection from the dead - again, a dogma of the faith. As such, it is a little unfair to take such "minor" beliefs and blow them out of proportion, as if they meant the same thing as the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ.
"I don't know and frankly I am not worried about the reasons why, it's not my place to worry about such things since God has put things in their place the way He has seen fit."
It is too bad that such disagreements turn sour in some cases. I can imagine a person who is legitametly exploring why Catholics do x or y can get lost in the "war" between an anti-Catholic and a zealous Catholic defending his beliefs. It is unfortunate that such people as yourself gets in the cross-fire and perhaps take a sour taste to Catholicism as a result.
I hope that my fellow Christians can take these comments as they are meant - to be careful how we present ourselves and remember:
"...always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you. However, do this with gentleness and respect..." 1 Peter 3:15-16
Brother in Christ