[Mark17]

Since I am an ex catholic, I feel qualified to comment. 😁 First, let me say, I didn’t pay close attention in catechism class. I was more interested in flirting with the girls. 👍 I would not call Mary a goddess. For want of a better word, we were taught she was like a Demi goddess, similar to the Titans of Greek mythology. I know that is not a real good analogy, but Demi goddess would be about the best term I can come up with.
Whether I actually, physically heard the words, the implication was clear, that Mary was considered the 4th most important person in the whole universe, after the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Now that I am no longer a catholic, I think it is blasphemous.

[hiredhand]

I spent four years in parochial (Catholic) high schools in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but am not, nor was I ever Catholic. However, both Catholicism and most of what we consider to be Western Christianity, AND Orthodox Judaism must reconcile their traditions with Scripture. Or, they can just go on pretending and making statements about YHVH which contradict His Word. The very notion of “Catholicism” stands in contrast to the “narrow way”. One is broad and open to everybody. The other is narrow and few will be called. Again, most won’t reconcile the contradictions. Most will simply suffer a collapse under the weight of cognitive dissonance and lash out at the one who observes the contrast and suggests a reconciliation with Scripture. Those to whom reconciliation is suggested, will defer to “learned men”, puffed up with “theology”, and degrees...”titles”. Those who look to them won’t read, study, or perceive on their own. A few will, but most won’t. Most defer to “theologians”. Is God impressed with them though? Then again, the prophets of old received no less than this treatment I’m describing. Nothing is new. The fight is the same. Ba’al is alive and well... thriving even!