There is a German phrase: "Herr Pastor." You can look it up on Wikipedia, where it says: "The leadership style of the Herr Pastor was, to some degree, a benevolent dictatorship in the sense that the Herr Pastor held supreme decision making authority."
Here is an example where an earthly saint, someone who likely (tho surely not all) wound up in heaven. But, in their time here on earth, they operated as a "peripheral spirit." They assumed the role of a "benevolent dictator"--filling a perceived vacuum where there was none.
There is one Lord in the Church. That role has not been evacuated. Jesus Christ is the Head of the church. That role has not been evacuated. Jesus Christ is the true Pope of the church. The pope is not the head of the church; and the priest or pastor of any local church is not the head of that church. Everybody else is simply a servant-leader operating with delegated authority.
So, is the invisible Body of Christ as an organism divided? (No!) Is the visible Body of Christ that manifests itself in organizations and institutions divided? (Often!)
If you haven't seen what it's like when a pro player or a youth association/league player starts acting like they are the coach and takes matters into their own hands, then I can understand why you don't understand this concept of organizational divisiveness and "peripheral spirits."
If a player doesn't know his proper role & steps into a hat they are not meant to don, their sideline and on-the-field antics distract the rest of the team from following the authority of the coach. That player may eventually get his act together and the team becomes re-unified as one.
When the play clock is winding down, you as a quarterback don't have time to send 3 players to the sidelines to talk to the coach on your behalf. You need to look to the sideline coach play-caller and signal back & forth as to what the play is going to be.
When you're waiting to step into the batter's box, you don't have time to go through a sign language routine several times to communicate to other players on the bench to talk to the coach on your behalf. Get the signal from the third base coach; if you don't understand it, call time out and go talk to him (not the players on the bench).
My point is we all have limited time on this earth. Are we praying enough to God? Jesus? No!!! So why be further distracted by praying to spirits who will never answer our prayers! God will!
Do you not understand what intercessory prayer means?
May I add may insight. These saints are seen by the Catholic Church as icons. They represent a tenant of faith which act in the process of worship as a way to strengthen their love of God. There are many ways to worship God and strengthen ones relationship with God. One can read the Bible, sing songs of worship, find quiet time in a corner of the room, listen to songs of worship, listen to tapes of those preaching the word, say the Rosary, and etc. For the Catholic, worship is the use of icons to focus ones mind in an act of worship. What must be understood is that these icons are not worshiped in lieu of God. That would be idolatry. These icons are used to stregthen one love of God and bring one to the spiritual throne room with God.