The Catholic Church says they have incorporated paganism. Deal with it.
“The Catholic Church says they have incorporated paganism. Deal with it.”
Nope. Some Catholics have said some implements and customs used by ancient pagans are used by Christians. Those are two very different things.
Even your own quotes show this to be the case:
““We need not shrink from admitting that candles, like incense and lustral water, were commonly employed in pagan worship and the rites paid to the dead. But the Church from a very early period took them into her service”
That means they were things “employed”, not paganism itself.
““When we give or receive Christmas gifts; or hang green wreaths in our homes and churches, how many of us know that we are probably observing pagan customs”
Pagan customs are not paganism itself.
You were wrong.