[GCC Catholic]

If you are praying TO President Bush, your father, or Dr. O'Neil, then yes. It's one thing to revere Mary, it is another thing altogether to pray to her. Prayer is an act of worship that can only be directed at the object of worship. By praying to Mary, I believe that a person crosses the thin line between reverence and worship.

Sorry, but your definition is a little on the narrow side. The definition includes asking in a humble manner. See the definition from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:

Main Entry: pray
Pronunciation: \ˈprā\
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French prier, praer, preier, from Latin precari, from prec-, prex request, prayer; akin to Old High German frāga question, frāgēn to ask, Sanskrit pṛcchati he asks
Date: 13th century
transitive verb 1 : entreat, implore —often used as a function word in introducing a question, request, or plea {pray be careful}
2 : to get or bring by praying
intransitive verb 1 : to make a request in a humble manner
2 : to address God or a god with adoration, confession, supplication, or thanksgiving

This is also where we get the old English word "prithee"... "I pray thee." Even the Latin word "ora," which is also translated as the verb "to pray" can also mean "to speak."

[AustinBill]

This use survives in court filings today. Read a formal brief submitted to a court and you’ll see section titles like “Prayer for Relief”, etc.

[Mad Dawg]

(It’s also fun to check out the word “bead”.)