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While it seems insulting and hate-filled for non-Catholics to say that Catholics worship Mary, I sometimes wonder if perhaps Catholics should consider the reasons as to why this charge is thrown out rather than simply attack anyone who states such a thing as an "anti-Catholic."

Catholics distinguish between three forms of honor - "Latria", the honor and worship given to God alone, "Hyperdulia", the honor given to the Virgin Mary, and "Dulia", the honor given to the rest of the heavenly host. Generally speaking, Protestants see these distinctions as unnecessary to the Christian faith. While Catholics and Orthodox Christians believe that, while still on earth, men still possess good within them and are able to cooperate with the Grace of God to do good, many Protestants believe that men are utterly sinful and that all good works come purely from God's grace. All the good that we do comes from God alone, and thus all praise, glory, and honor should go directly to God alone.

Catholics make an excellent point with the argument that the Saints are alive in Christ, that God grants them the power to hear our prayers, and that prayers to the saints are just a matter of asking them for their intercession, much the way as one might ask their mother here on earth to pray for them. This view holds that God finds joy in having his followers pray for each other, whether on earth or from Heaven. From certain Protestant standpoints, however, the difference is that when we ask a fellow Christian here on earth to pray for us, it is a simple matter of saying, "Pray for me." It does not involve lengthy and drawn out devotions full of lofty praise and honor for the person involved. The request does not need to be repeated 150 times. These views hold that anything beyond a simple, "Pray for me," really should be prayer aimed directly to God through that most perfect of intercessors, Jesus Christ, and anything more appears to border on worship.

Add to that doctrines like the Immaculate Conception and theological concepts like Mary as Co-Redemptrix and Mediatrix of Graces and it is easy to see how, from some Protestant points of view, the Catholic approach is considered "Mary worship."

This all really comes down to a difference in paradigms. From a Catholic point of view, that which constitutes hyperdulia is distinct from that which constitutes latria and thus "Mary worship" is a ridiculous concept. From the Protestant points of view in question, starting from very different premises where that which constitutes hyperdulia IS considered to overlap into the realm of the adoration due to God alone and it really is "Mary worship" despite protestations to the contrary. I am not defending that view; I am simply stating how one can hold it in good faith despite constant correction from Catholics.

As a Protestant, while I personally do not see prayers to saints as an essential part of the Christian faith to the degree that Catholics do, I do not think it boils down to unlawful worship. The fact of the matter is that when Catholics pay high honor to the saints, especially the Blessed Virgin Mary, what they are truly focused upon honoring is the Lord God who worked through those saints and made them as they are in Heaven. It is impossible to praise the masterpiece without also praising the Master who made it. I think that is the essence of Catholic attitudes towards the saints.

My overall point, however, is that it is not entirely fair to blame Protestants who don't quite accept these ideas as simply being Catholic-bashers. Their point of view on the matter is firmly rooted in their world view (as opposed to a desire to simply say rotten things about Catholics) and little good is achieved by going after them without taking the time to acknowledge where they are coming from.

That is a very well reasoned post. Of course it may seem like worship to some other sorts of Christians.

But not one Catholic Freeper has said they worship Mary in this thread. Very much the opposite has happened. And there are Catholics on FR who openly don’t recognize the current Pope as valid!! If there were millions of Catholics who worship Mary we would surely have one or two on FR. Catholics have no reason not to admit worshipping Mary if they really did so, especially on an anonymous message board (because worshipping Mary gets you kicked out of the Church). The only folks who seem to think that Catholics worship Mary are some other types of Christians, despite the simple fact that Catholics say they don’t and would have no reason not to admit to it if they did.

Freegards, God bless