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We don’t pray to statues. We don’t worship Mary. Thus, your concerns are unwarranted. The Commandments demand that we only worship God (the Trinity). We do so. We also do not worship any statues, but we most certainly have religious art. The Jews also had religious art. They just didn’t worship it and neither do we.

Once art is called “religious” art one is ascribing holiness to the art.

As I said above, would one toss the art in the garbage without giving it a second thought ?

If one does not ascribe any holiness to the art, one would not think twice about tossing the art in the garbage.

If someone knocks the head off a “religious” statue, are they “desecrating” it ?

If one considers them to have “desecrated” the statue, then one is ascribing holiness to the art.

The art of the Holy Temple of ancient Israel was specific to the Temple because the Temple was constructed based on direct revelation from God through the prophets. There is no New Testament analog to the Temple that is directed by the New Testament for Christian worship.

If you recall, the New Testament quite emphatically ends ceremonial law of the Old Testament in the sections which speak to the issue of Gentiles not being required to practice the Jewish rites and feasts.

We don’t worship Mary.

But RC doctrine include praying to Mary to "intercede" for us with "her son". Nowhere does the New or Old Testament specify that prayers should be prayed to anyone other than God the Father and God the Son, Jesus Christ.

Those who are misled by this would do well to study their Bibles and seek the truth from the Word of God; they can see for themselves that Scripture condemns this.

Matthew 15:9 "9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

Matthew 6:6 "6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."

In response to the disciples request to be taught to pray, Jesus answered:

Luke 11

"1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth."