Catholics also say they don’t bow down to statues too but they just rename it and say they are bowing down to God. The scriptures say to not bow down to any graven image and it does not especially say it is okay if you say it is God instead. So, you saying you don’t worship Mary is just a play on words. You pray to her. The same thing as worship. It is also heresy to pray to her
I never said I pray to Mary, I respect the FACT that GOD himself used her to bring forth our Lord Jesus Christ.
Respect is not the same as reverence, I respect alot of people, but I don't “pray” to them.