The recent threads on FR that criticize or openly attack the catholic faith and those who follow it are distressing and ill-advised. Some experts, often protestants, will take the Bible as a book of quotes ready to apply and shape to make a particular argument and spread division, hatred and regression that is a detriment to us all as a society. This is quite distressing when we, as a presumably conservative group (I am speaking of FR as a whole), need to work for unity rather than division among the Christian believers as well as conservative Jews (there is a small but strong group) and others among us who are stronly opposed to the liberal doctrines. These “experts” are no better than politicians who use social and economic class, race, gender, etc. to divide rather than unify us by the strong common beliefs that join us - we know which political class does this most effectively.
When I attend catholic mass on Sunday I pray with the entire congregation the Liturgy of the Word: “We believe in one God, the father, the almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one lord, Jesus Christ, eternally begotten of the father, God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God. Begotten, not made, one in being with the father, through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.”
We do not worship Mary. When we kneel as a congregation during the liturgy of the eucharist, we worship Jesus in the remembrance of the Last Supper, and the promise of eternal life through His sacrifice. We do not worship Mary.
Mary has a beautiful and we believe, very blessed role in our faith. God chose her to serve in life as mother of Jesus Christ and Himself created our Saviour’s life within her. Still, we do not worship her, we worship God as holy trinity, as we pray together as a congregation.
To what purpose is the spreading of this divisive anti-catholic polemic?
First of all it's not divisive and it's not anti-catholic. It's an article questioning whether Mary should be worshipped or not. It's answer depends on how what is meant by "worship". It's purpose is to edify and educate the saints of God.
Couldn’t have said it better.
I noticed at the time of Pope Benedict’s election that this may be a “Christian” nation, it is far from Catholic. Those who do not practice Catholicism or try to apply “American” ideology fail miserably when trying to understand or explain away Catholic faith.