[Dr. Eckleburg]

You've got about as much teaching authority as a shetland sheepdog.

Christians were asking for the intercession of the saints from the beginning--long before your sect was even a gleam in satan's eye.

Not "from the beginning." Not until much later when pagan sects and practices had creeped into some churches unaware.

But it's interesting how so many posts of Roman Catholic apologists grow increasingly snarky and personal and aggressive, especially when making correct Scriptural observations such as "praying to Mary is against the second commandment."

Funny. I don't see that vitriol when disagreements come up over Jesus Christ or justification or sacraments. Nope. That peculiar defensiveness is reserved for a woman, a defensiveness which knows no civility and is exhibited by those who have little understanding of the Bible or its admonishment not to bow down to the stock of a tree.

That's why so many Christians here find all this attention and adoration slavishly and fawningly showered on Mary to be more than a bit creepy.

Roman Catholic apologists' eyes are not on the prize; their hearts are turned away from Christ onto the creature; and worst of all, they seem to feel no shame for this clear error which elevates the earthly mother and thus, demotes our heavenly Father's Son.

Who is preeminent in that photo? In that church? In that faith?

[Judith Anne]

That's why so many Christians here find all this attention and adoration slavishly and fawningly showered on Mary to be more than a bit creepy.

YOUR opinion, YOUR slimy adjectives, and YOUR evaluation of others' behaviors. And that second photo has been discredited many times. Yet YOU keep posting it.

[Desdemona]

I have to run, but the top photograph is taken from one of four chapels in one church. Yes, I know which church it is, because I belong to that parish. Every Sunday morning I see that particular statue walking to the back of the Cathedral to process behind the cross. Yes, it is known as the Mary Chapel, but you’re cherry-picking. The focus of that specific church is Christ and anyone who thinks otherwise has never seen the Crucifix or the Mosaic in the east transcept or the Blessed Sacrament Chapel or the Sacred Heart Shrine. There’s no doubt who the focus in that parish is. None.

[netmilsmom]

Who is that “Statue of Mary” on the cross holding?

Could it be JESUS?!?

Any more that picture makes me giggle. Some cheap relic stand sticks a modern interpretation of Jesus being held my his mother on the back of a classic crucifix and it’s supposed to show something?

LOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!

All it shows is that mixing styles in art revels poor taste in art.

[Antoninus]

Not "from the beginning." Not until much later when pagan sects and practices had creeped into some churches unaware.

Oh, but it was from the beginning. Certainly much, much closer to the beginning than the birth of the protestant heresy which some how revealed the "truth" a mere 1500 years after the death and resurrection of our Savior. How many poor souls were sent to hell for their "superstitious" petitions to the saints before Luther and Calvin enlightened the world and let a million sects proliferate in their unbearable hubris?

Can you not see the utter absurdity of this claim? Your argument is self-contradictory and risible.

That's why so many Christians here find all this attention and adoration slavishly and fawningly showered on Mary to be more than a bit creepy.

My guess is that you probably find a lot of true and traditional Christian practices creepy. That's why you guys went off and founded your own sects apart from the rest of us--so you could embrace only those parts of Christianity you found comfortable and not have to worry about the "creepy" stuff.

I truly feel no anger toward you. Only pity. You are trying to breathe with only one lung and then telling us that we are sinning by breathing with two. It's sad, really.

[Antoninus]

BTW, with reference to the top photo, look up the Greek word Hodegetria and get back to us, ok?