As every student of rhetoric knows who ever controls the language controls the argument and we see a daily drumbeat to control the word usage and word definitions and limit them to a Protestant or a semi-literate English vernacular when discussing Catholic doctrine and theology. Don't give into it.
The term "cult" is a perfect example. Protestants use it as a pejorative when it has a rich and deep meaning within Latin and Catholic doctrine. Cult, from the Latin Cultus, meaning to care, to nurture, to educate, or to worship. It is where we derive words such as culture, cultivate, colony, cultrate, and difficult. None of those are inherently bad.
Even by the pejorative definitions, Christianity as a whole began as a cult. Within Catholicism there are venerative dedications* to saints and holy persons called cultus. Don't permit the ignorance of others to alter your language.
(*Preemptively, Catholicism, both Eastern and Latin Rite, distinguish between worship (Latin adoratio, Greek latreia [λατρεια]) which is offered to God alone, and veneration (Latin veneratio, Greek doulia [δουλεια]), which may be offered to the saints. Hyperdoulia is a special veneration offered to Mary.)
Excellent point again, thanks.