[Petrosius]

You do see that great big ol' idol of Mary....right?

No! There is no idol of Mary. Catholics do not believe that Mary is a god, nor do we believe that the statue is the actual presence of Mary to whom we offer sacrifice. The statue of Mary is no more an idol than any pictures you might have of deceased loved ones. (You do know what an idol is, don't you?)

I have been a Catholic for my entire life and have never worshipped Mary; nor have any of my Catholic friends. I think that I know better what is in my mind and my heart than you do. So cease attributing to me and my fellow Catholics sentiments and motivations that we have repeatedly denied.

[ealgeone]

No! There is no idol of Mary. Catholics do not believe that Mary is a god, nor do we believe that the statue is the actual presence of Mary to whom we offer sacrifice. The statue of Mary is no more an idol than any pictures you might have of deceased loved ones. (You do know what an idol is, don't you?)

Oh no....not the failed Tim Staples argument of the pictures of mom and dad. I can't believe you guys still use that one.

I have been a Catholic for my entire life and have never worshipped Mary; nor have any of my Catholic friends. I think that I know better what is in my mind and my heart than you do. So cease attributing to me and my fellow Catholics sentiments and motivations that we have repeatedly denied.

You've been mislead by your denomination that it's not an idol and it's not worship.

Idol worship

Idol worship

Yet Roman Catholics say this is not worship nor an idol.

Nor is this per Roman Catholicism...

I don't see a bit of difference.

[ealgeone]

I have been a Catholic for my entire life and have never worshipped Mary; nor have any of my Catholic friends.

These are but some of the false attributes assigned to Mary by Roman Catholic writers:

No one can enter into Heaven except through Mary, as entering through a gate..... St. Bonaventure

Holy Scripture was written for Mary, about Mary, and on account of Mary..... St. Bernard

All gifts, virtues, and graces of the Holy Ghost are administered by the hands of Mary to whomsoever she desires, when she desires, and in the manner she desires, and to whatever degree she desires...... St. Bernardine of Siena

She opens the abyss of God's mercy to whomsoever she wills, when she wills, and as she wills, so that there is no sinner however great who is lost if Mary protects him . . . All men: past, present, and to come, should look upon Mary as the means and negotiator of the salvation of all ages..... St. Bernard

All the Elect obtain eternal salvation through the means of Mary..... St. Ildephonsus

The New Testament teaches otherwise:

1“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4“And you know the way where I am going.” 5Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”

6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

John 14:1-6 NASB

[infool7]

There are six five pals here on FR claiming to believe that they:

"have already been judged and found just."

Is it possible to teach one that is invincibly convinced that they are already as perfect as their Father?

What should we do when a gospel being preached to us is so foreign it appears to be almost entirely opposite to what has been received?

Paul's Greeting to the Galatians
Paul, an apostle, not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead, And all the brethren who are with me, to the churches of Galatia. Grace be to you, and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present wicked world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom is glory for ever and ever. Amen.

No Other Gospel
I wonder that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ, unto another gospel. Which is not another, only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you besides that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema. As we said before, so now I say again: If anyone preach to you a gospel, besides that which you have received, let him be anathema. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Paul Defends his Ministry
For I give you to understand, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For neither did I receive it of man, nor did I learn it; but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion: how that, beyond measure, I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it. And I made progress in the Jews' religion above many of my equals in my own nation, being more abundantly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased him, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, immediately I condescended not to flesh and blood. Neither went I to Jerusalem, to the apostles who were before me: but I went into Arabia, and again I returned to Damascus.

Paul Accepted by Apostles and Others
Then, after three years, I went to Jerusalem, to see Peter, and I tarried with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles I saw none, saving James the brother of the Lord. Now the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I lie not. Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea, which were in Christ: But they had heard only: He, who persecuted us in times past, doth now preach the faith which once he impugned: And they glorified God in me.

7