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What makes you think I am interested in your interpretation of the scripture, especially as an ex-Catholic? You went away from the Church and so you have committed a great step toward your own damnation. Naturally, you will try to seduce Catholic Christian; reading your opinions is not a wholesome exercise.

Besides, you are wrong on matters of fact.

I could no more commit murder with a clear heart than I can bow to a statue

It doesn't follow. Murder is a matter of natural law and condemned by Jesus. Making images of Jesus and His saints and bowing down -- or otherwise praying to them -- is a matter of manner of worship that can defined by the Church. Certainly the Church got away with the lifting of dietetic law, far more critical to Judaism than "bowing down to graven images"

they certainly mention idolatry and idolators negatively

So would I, but idolatry is not a problem for the undivided Church and not Catholic Church today.

attempt to distance the Catholic and Orthodox practice from the pagan practice, was developed later

In response to iconoclasm, by St. John Damascine. The very phenomenon of iconoclasm shows that the veneration of icons preceded it. The belief f St. Luke painting the first icon would not be possible if it were not plausible for the Early Church to write icons.

Galatians 3 doesn’t speak of a crucifix, it merely says that Christ crucified was portrayed to them.

Yeah, when Christ crucified is portrayed it is called crucifix.

The chapter speaks of how the Old Covenant revealed by Moses revealed only a lesser, veiled glory of the Lord, while the work of Christ reveals a greater glory.

Aha. Thanks. You lifted that from St. John of Damascus? This is exactly why this passage is in context pointed support of iconodoulia: the work of Christ revealed the Icon of God to us.

The eating of pork was a completely different kind of law from the law about graven images.

Yes there are differences but the Church -- whose deliberations are written down (Acts 15) -- did not base its decision on any Old Testament distinctions but simply on the recognition that circumcision and abstaining from pork were "unnecessary burdens. So is the idiotic idea that if I prostrate before the Mother of God I commit idolatry against that very God she is the Mother of.

That whole Protestant checking and tsk-tsking over what authentic Christians do is nothing but pharisaism. You are angry people; when you see people with genuine faith you get mad. I understand. Do you understand?

those who are in the trade of making idols for the pagans shouldn’t be allowed in the church [...] Why would he not tell “he who carves a Mars” to carve a saint, Christ, or Mary, instead of a chest?

Yes, of course he wouldn't, since ther presence of artists would confuse the idol-making with iconogrpahy. Also, various artists today who don't fast, don't follow iconographical canons and make whatever they feel the inspiration to do -- like the cheesy graphics found in Protestant settings, -- do not belong in the Catholic Church, regardless of their artistic merit.

It is generally a good idea to understand the matters you try to opine about, especially if you are not qualified to judge on matters Catholic.

This is what you do, please. Go back to the Church and repent of the sin of leaving her and calumniating her. Confessions are usually heard on Saturdays around 4pm. Then -- and not before -- you walk around, stay for coffees, and ask the person who you had noticed bowing to the statue if he thinks he is worshiping anyone other than Christ while doing so. Then write to me your impressions, or, quite simply, address your concerns to the priest outside of the confession booth and take his advice.