“That’s odd, as I see many instances of Catholics asking Mary to intercede for things. That is worship in most people’s books.
“Mary was an ordinary woman asked to do extraordinary things.”
Asking someone to pray for you and beg God on your behalf is not “worship”. You ask people to pray for you or your loved ones many a time, I’d wager.
As for praising Mary, etc., I’d say it’s nothing more than veneration. We (certainly I do) venerate George Washington. That does not mean we worship him and make him god.
1 Tim 2:5 For [there is] one God, and ONE MEDIATOR between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all
Mat 3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, WE HAVE Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
Jhn 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall NEITHER in this mountain, NOR yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father... But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him MUST worship [him] in SPIRIT and in TRUTH.
Act 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth NOT in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things
Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and SEARCHED THE SCRIPTURES daily, WHETHER those things WERE SO.
Rom 16:17 mark them which cause divisions and offences CONTRARY TO THE DOCTRINE which ye HAVE learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches DECEIVE the hearts of the simple.
Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the TRADITION OF MEN
Rev 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them WHICH SAY they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them LIARS
2 Tim 3:13 evil men and SEDUCERS shall wax WORSE and worse, DECEIVING, and BEING DECEIVED.