My observation is that your observation is of Americanized Catholicism. Philippines Catholicism (Filipinized Catholicism) is much, much different. The level and manner of “devotion” to Mary is immensely greater and deeper, and millions of Filipinos would never think it strange to have their devotion directly labeled, “worship.”
It is my observation that the outward manifestations of Catholicism change in various places in the world.
From Manila to Lipa City, Batanga Province to the south is only 45 miles. In the usual traffic flow it takes about two hours to travel that distance. But I have seen it take SIX hours to go that 45 miles because of one procession for Mary where thousands are clogging the two lane highway waiting for a chance to kiss the statue’s toe. The mail doesn’t get delivered. Delivery trucks with perishables have to dump their contents. Ambulances cannot get through with heart attack victims on board. because they were behind the procession for Mary
No statue of Jesus. Only Mary. Thousands are bowing and kissing the idol, and genuflecting and and speaking in a way that can only be described as “Worship.”
By you perhaps. My only comment in response to your description of your experiences in the Philippines is that you should be ashamed of yourself for spreading your heresies in the land where my father came from.
Even if Filipinos would agree to such a label for their devotion to Mary (something I doubt), they STILL wouldn't be violating Scripture at all. Read Rev 3:9. It's just as Catholics have always said: Honor bestowed to the Saints and Mary (dulia and hyperdulia respectively), do not violate Scripture at all, they are forms of "worship" that show honor and respect to men (or women of course) of higher rank. In fact, such acts are supported by the passage above.
You'll note if you do a word search on the word used for "worship" in Rev 3:9, it's the exact same word used to describe the actions of men worshipping God in other Scripture passages. It depends on the context (heart of the person involved), as to which definition of proskyneo is applicable.
That’s right. Latin Americans have a tendency to do the same. Maybe American Catholics don’t but other countries feel differently.
what about the ‘laying on of hands” and the snake handlers?