Catholics don’t pray to images, they pray to the Saint in heaven who is represented by the statue. When non-Catholics kneel beside their bed with a Bible in their hands, they are not praying to their bible (I hope) but to God.
Is not one obviously better than the other?
The only conclusion I can arrive at is YOU DO NOT HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THE FATHER.
He is a JEALOUS GOD. JEALOUS IS HIS NAME
There is a huge difference between Gods Word and an image of Mary. The problem is you see the Bible as just another relic. God is a living God and His Word is living, he not far away.
If my earthly father were still alive, I would go directly to him, not through his accountant or business organization. But you make your own choice.
I do not say the above to prove I am right and you are wrong. I say the above to remind us both of who God is.
This is why I hate having these arguments with anti-Catholics. I did answer your question, but you ignored it. Praying to Saints is no different than asking a fellow Christian. Why ever ask a fellow Christian to pray for you? What if you asked a fellow Christian asked for your prayers and they said, "You stupid pagan! Stop worshipping me by asking for my prayers! Pray straight to God!"
The only conclusion I can arrive at is YOU DO NOT HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THE FATHER.
You draw aa false conclusion based on your ignorance and animosity toward the Catholic Faith. In any case, you are not the one to take the place of God to decide that.
There is a huge difference between Gods Word and an image of Mary.
The point I was making was if praying before a plaster statue of Mary is worshipping her, then praying in front of a Bible is worshipping the Bible--your physical Bible made of paper and leather. We put our faith in the Word of God, not in a statue or in the paper and ink of a book. It is what they represent and how they bring us closer to God, in different ways, that matters. Is asking Mary to pray as important as the inspired Word of God found in the Bible? Nobody says it is, but just because something is less important, doesn't mean it isn't helpful in it's own way. To deny this shows an incapacity to reason and make distinctions.
The problem is you see the Bible as just another relic. God is a living God and His Word is living, he not far away.
You have no idea how I regard the Bible, Mr. Wannabe Mind Reader. If you you knew how much time I spent in the Bible--studying it, teaching it. and living it-- you would be ashamed to make such an ignorant charge.
Don't believe in praying to Mary? Then don't do it. It's as easy as that. From my standpoint, one would be remiss in not soliciting the prayers of a holy person--either on earth or in heaven-- but that's just me. YMMV.