FWIW, my former paster (Methodist) sent out a Christmas letter that was objectionable on many levels, but the worst was her characerization of Mary. She said that every pregnant teenager who gave birth in a Bus Station was Mary.
I just shook my head and thought, "You have no understanding of who Mary was."
--I am convinced that as more Evangelicals understand the Christ-centeredness of Mary, more and more Evangelicals will join the Catholic Church.
But the evangelicals want Christ, not Mary as the only center of 'veneration'. I only pray to God, I will never kneel before a statue of my good friend Steve to ask him to pray for me. If Steve is considered more than just a good friend, indeed, giving him some stake in my salvation, that is false, and that is putting him at some level equal to Christ. Indeed ALL men, except Christ alone are fallen, as was Mary.
Luke, when writing all the truth that he could find in his Gospel to Theophilus did not mention that Mary's pain at the foot of the Cross was somehow redemptive. Nor did he mention that she was born immaculately. Nor did he make much mention of this special status that she is now held by the RCC, and perhaps held that way since way early in the church. Yes, she is known to be blessed beyond all other women for being the mother of Jesus, but nothing else. Read the first chapter of Luke especially, and then the rest.
Luke 1: 3it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; 4so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.
Now according to the RCC this infallible Gospel must be truth. If that is what it is, then according to what Luke himself wrote this Gospel is all that Luke could find about the life and teachings of Christ, and it should be all that one needs for salvation. Does this Gospel teach all that the RCC stands for? The Protestants say not.
And that is why the RCC is considered heretical by the Protestants, and no matter how you make Mary the selling point, at least this Reformed believer will never think to fall to the RCC's heresy.
Yes, there are some that cross the Tiber, as they say. But many in the past fell for the various heresies. Does this mean those old moldy heresies are right? No. Just means people really do not change, and those that are not strong in the Scripture fall for such. When dust gathers on the Word, heresy gathers on the Church.