Well it wouldn’t have become a issue had the catholic church initially headed the warnings not to include pagan symbols and rites into the faith and copying heathen practices.
But here it is today...and over the centuries continued to add to the mix more and more til these symbols and relics, shrines, and various other idols and practices have displaced entirely the centrality of Jesus Christ.
Here's the thing about that: For whom is it an issue? Is it an issue for those who are contemplating coming into the Catholic Church or for those who've already made up their mind? I've yet to meet a potential convert to the Church say, "Well I'd convert if it wasn't for all that pagan symbolism." You know why? Because it's not an issue. You bring up rites. Let's take the Eucharistic rite, the source and summit of our Catholic Faith according to Blessed Pope John Paul II. The Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Now, what do you think the primary issue is with that for some people? Is it that it's the Body and Blood of Christ or that it's a round wafer which could be interpreted as sun worship?
This is an issue only for those who've already made their choice and decided to throw paganism in the mix for whatever purpose, most likely because it satisfies some itch for a good conspiracy theory (the da Vinci code syndrome I mentioned earlier) or they are channeling their inner Indiana Jones.
But here it is today...and over the centuries continued to add to the mix more and more til these symbols and relics, shrines, and various other idols and practices have displaced entirely the centrality of Jesus Christ.
And so I said, Christ is central to our Faith. If you don't accept the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist that's fine (well, not really but that's another discussion) but don't hide behind the "Church is pagan" mythology in order to shield yourself from confronting the question of Christ really, truly and substantially present in the Eucharist.
It's only an issue because people want to make it one.