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.
And the decorations on the Ark, and later around the temple were in direct defiance to Gods orders.... is that your claim. None of those were used in worship either. Nice try.