It's kind of a tricky semantic thing (I am a Traditional Catholic and most definitely pray to Our Mother, Mary, but don't consider her anything like a deity. However, she, like any good mother, is willing to help her children achieve their worthy goals.)
In the following definition of worship, #1 would certainly not apply to the way Catholics view Our Mother, but #2 might, depending on how you use "adoring".
v. wor·shiped, or wor·shipped wor·ship·ing, or wor·ship·ping wor·ships or wor·ships
v. tr.
1. To honor and love as a deity.
2. To regard with ardent or adoring esteem or devotion.
Adore can be synonomous with revere. I have no problem with the "deepest respect, deference, and esteem". That correctly describes how I feel about Our Mother.
re·vere1 Audio pronunciation of "revere" ( P )
Pronunciation Key (r-vîr)
tr.v. re·vered, re·ver·ing, re·veres
To regard with awe, deference, and devotion.
[French révérer, from Old French reverer, from Latin reverr : re-, re- + verr, to respect; see wer-3 in Indo-European Roots.]
Synonyms: revere, 1worship, venerate, adore, idolize
These verbs mean to regard with the deepest respect, deference, and esteem. Revere suggests awe coupled with profound honor: “At least one third of the population... reveres every sort of holy man” (Rudyard Kipling). Worship implies reverent love and homage rendered to God or a god: The ancient Egyptians worshiped a number of gods. In a more general sense worship connotes an often uncritical devotion: “She had worshiped intellect” (Charles Kingsley). Venerate connotes reverence accorded by virtue, especially of dignity or age: “I venerate the memory of my grandfather” (Horace Walpole). To adore is to worship with deep, often rapturous love: The students adored their caring teacher. Idolize implies worship like that accorded an object of religious devotion: He idolizes his wife.
However, I do have a question of my Catholic brothers and sisters, that goes to an issue deeper than the "Mary" thing.
It is my understanding that the most basic rift between the Catholic and Protestant churches concerns the "tearing of the veil of the Temple", which was symbolicly saying that regular Joes like me were no longer seperated from the Father. (Most) Protestants believe that Jesus, through the atonement, took away the need for ANY intercessor: a priest, Mary, certain prayers, The Pope, Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn, Jabez Bracelets - we can go DIRECTLY to the Father and ask forgiveness and his blessings in our life. We can appear before him daily without ANYONE's help.
The Catholic Church, correct me if I'm wrong, believes extensively in intercession.
Isn't this really what the big rift is?