It also depends on what your, as you say it "evangelical p faith" stands for -- for instance, do you hold to the beliefs espoused in the Nicene Creed?
We believe (I believe) in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, and born of the Father before all ages. (God of God) light of light, true God of true God. Begotten not made, consubstantial to the Father, by whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven. And was incarnate of the Holy Ghost and of the Virgin Mary and was made man; was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried; and the third day rose again according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of the Father, and shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, of whose Kingdom there shall be no end. And (I believe) in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father (and the Son), who together with the Father and the Son is to be adored and glorified, who spoke by the Prophets. And one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We confess (I confess) one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for (I look for) the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen."
There is no place in Scripture that calls for anyone to worship Marty, Joseph, John, Peter, Paul, nor any other dead Christian. Christ and Christ alone is the way to God. No one comes to the Father accept through Christ.
Also, claiming that one can be prayed, or bought out of some form of purgatory is heretical. You have one chance to gain salvation and eternal life, and that would be during the days included in dash between the day of one's birth and the day of one's death. The Catholic church took a verse out of the historical account of the Maccabees (2 Maccabees 12:41,42,45) and decided that Christ was not the only way to salvation. By doing so, the church claims that Jesus lied when he said on the cross,
"It is finished"
How anyone can do the many things the catholic church espouses and still claim to follow the Nicene creed is beyond me. Until the Catholic church denounces their heretical traditions, they are no better than the Pharisees of Christ's day.
I do believe many Catholics are saved. However, I also believe very few Catholic priests, Cardinal, or Popes are save. To be honest with you, when I consider the many traditions the Catholic church requires it's followers to adhere to, I am hard pressed to see much difference between it and some of those cults you mention.
The one saving grace is that the Catholic church still holds to the belief of the Holy Trinity. Otherwise it would be a cult.
It's my prayer that the new Pope will put an end to the traditions of the Catholic church. As Christ told the Pharisees, Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.
For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do."
I will add that the Catholic church holds to traditions like,
- The chanting of the Roman Catholic Rosary in vain repetition
- Calling A man father and claiming he can forgive ones sin
- Claiming a preist who marries has abandoned his calling to lead the sheep
- Rejection of Sola Scriptura, and embracing the idea that the Pope is infallible but the Word of god is not I could go on and on, but these are just a few along with what I mentioned above that I will leave it at that Christ told the Pharisees and now the Catholic church,
"All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.......... making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do." Mark 7:8-13