The command was not to bow down and worship false idols. The Bronze serpent was acceptable UNTIL Israel began to treat it as a false god. Please keep in mind that words mean things and that the word idol means an image or other material object representing a deity to which religious worship is addressed. ( http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/idol?s=t&path=/)
Regardless of how it may appear Catholics do not worship anyone or anything except the Trinity. Anyone that says other wise is lying or is trying to engage in mind reading which is against the forum rules.
Notice how God says not to use the way of the pagans to serve Him? Even the RCC itself says they have incorporated pagan practices into their “religion”.
“We need not shrink from admitting that candles, like incense and lustral water, were commonly employed in pagan worship and the rites paid to the dead. But the Church from a very early period took them into her service, just as she adopted many other things indifferent in themselves, which seemed proper to enhance the splendor of religious ceremonial. We must not forget that most of these adjuncts to worship, like music, lights, perfumes, ablutions, floral decorations, canopies, fans, screens, bells, vestments etc. were not identified with any idolatrous cult in particular; but they were common to almost all cults” (Catholic Encyclopedia, III, 246.)
“When we give or receive Christmas gifts; or hang green wreaths in our homes and churches, how many of us know that we are probably observing pagan customs...the god, Woden, in Norse Mythology, descends upon the earth yearly between December 25th and January 6th to bless mankind...But pagan though they be, they are beautiful customs. They help inspire us with the spirit of 'good will to men', even as the sublime service of our Church reminds us of the ‘peace on earth’ which the babe of Bethlehem came to bestow” (Externals of the Catholic Church, 140).
Catholics can’t deny that the RCC has incorporated pagan practices into its practices. The RCC itself admits that it does. The RCC refuses to hear the words of the Lord.
“As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee. But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.” (Jer.44:16-17)
The RCC will, just as Israel did, experience the wrath of God for disobeying His word. The admonition in Revelation to “come out of her my people” is for those who truly want to listen to God.
The problem any Catholic would have is that Moses made the bronze serpent at GOD'S command. It wasn't Moses' idea. It wasn't something the Israelites used or incorporated in their worship that God later approved. Read and learn. God commanded Moses to make that serpent and the people didn't bow down to it or serve it. They merely had to look at it.
Numbers 21:7-9 7 And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.
“Regardless of how it may appear Catholics do not worship anyone or anything except the Trinity. Anyone that says other wise is lying or is trying to engage in mind reading which is against the forum rules. “
I’m sure you are right in the majority of cases... but to claim that all Catholics do not worship icons, statues, bones, etc. would require you to be a mind-reader also. Based on what one can observe from the outside only, I often see things that indeed look like worship. Is it? I leave it to God.