The translation of "worship" is from the Middle English: worshipe worthiness, respect, reverence paid to a divine being, from Old English weorthscipe worthiness, respect, from weorth worthy, worth + -scipe -ship. In essence, worshiping her. Not worship as in deity. Correct! Since the Catholic Church does not believe Mary to be a divine being or a deity, there's no worship. Glad we agree.
When you ask friends to pray for you, you are doing what Christ wants. We are to pray for each other. This is not granting a status of deity.
Correct! Since the Catholic Church never proclaimed Mary as a deity or anything close for that matter, then we have agreement again. When I ask Mary to pray for me, I am simply doing what Christ commanded. Glad you clarified that for us.
As for this:
The soldier on the battlefield does the same as an icon of the person he loves. You may hold the same argument for Mary, but the effect is that of idolization when done to the scope of the Roman Catholic Church.
LOL. Are you the sole arbiter of when expressions of love and honor rise to the level of idolization? I love my wife to the degree that I would DIE for her. Tell me, do I worship my wife?
Correct! Since the Catholic Church does not believe Mary to be a divine being or a deity, there's no worship. Glad we agree. Ever hear of "Queen of Heaven"? The Roman Catholic Church has elevated her to godhood.
Correct! Since the Catholic Church never proclaimed Mary as a deity or anything close for that matter, then we have agreement again.
ibid. Mary has been proclaimed by the Roman Catholic Church as being without sin (Catechism 411, 493). She is also place as co-mediator with Christ (Catechism 968-970, 2677).
Are you the sole arbiter of when expressions of love and honor rise to the level of idolization?
No, never said I was. I was merely giving my interpretation of a scene I have seen many times.
I love my wife to the degree that I would DIE for her. Tell me, do I worship my wife?
By definition, yes. But I am not suggesting you rely on her for your salvation or that you pray to her.