Well then it's so little it's not worth mentioning...
(1) alcoholics are not to be “abhorred,” they are our brothers, sisters, parents, spouses, who are to be loved and helped. I deplore alcoholism. I detest drunkenness. And I love a fair number of alcoholics. Plus...
I didn't say I did...I said IF I did...And you know the issue wasn't alcoholics...
Just a lot of rhetoric
Again, misdirected. Catholics do NOT condemn praying to Mary (as you know!)
We know that's not true...You know that's not true...You were given a link to a thread where one of your very own claims Catholics do not pray to Mary...So that's the end of that conversation...
we pray to (meaning, in Christ we are in living contact with) literally thousands of holy servants of God, saints and fellow-believers on this earth and saints in heaven, including the Holy Angels -— because we worship God along with them
When we see and hear you guys praying to Saints and Mary to give you things only God can provide, we know you are worshiping regardless of how you spin it...
And that is exactly why God didn't leave it up to you.
I'm perplexed. What's so little it's not worth mentioning?
"And you know the issue wasn't alcoholics..."
You introduced it as an analogy. I responded to it as an analogy.
"You were given a link to a thread where one of your very own claims Catholics do not pray to Mary...So that's the end of that conversation..."
It's true I was sent that link, but that's not the end of the conversation. Surely you've noticed that we've been struggling to define "pray" and to distinguish it from "adore." So it's worth asking what these other FReepers mean, isn't?
"When we see and hear you guys praying to Saints and Mary to give you things only God can provide, we know you are worshiping regardless of how you spin it... "
That does not follow logically. If we are asking for things which we know only God can provide, then we are asking for intercessory prayer TO GOD.
Our parish maintenance man, Ken, got an electric shock two weeks ago while trying to replace a light fixture, toppled off his ladder and sustained severe internal injuries. His survival and recovery is something that only God can provide. If I ask you to pray for him, it's not because I think you can work miracles due to your personal power or piety, but because I believe GOD can.
I would not be worshiping you!
Exactly the same with Mary: she is a creature and a handmaid. She prays for us. That's it.
I don't appreciate your "mind-reading", your presumption that you "know" I am worshiping Mary, when in fact I am not. But that kind of "mind-reading" seems to be the premise of this discussion.
A peaceful night to you, Iscool.
Reading the mind of another Free per, e.g. ‘you know’ - is a form of making it personal. Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.