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Reggie, just one self-identified Catholic saying they "worship" Mary would be sufficient. For starters.

Unless you are going to post Ksen's favorite passage, in which case I don't feel like playing stupid semantic games.

I imagine you don't wish to get into (again) the "special" definition of worship as applied to JPII or the semantic differences between "latria" and "hyperdulia". That is fine with me. I'll settle for the definition of "hyperdulia" from an official Catholic source such as the Catholic Catechism or a declared Infallible pronouncement from a Pope or a "unanimous" declaration of a Council. Fair enough?

In the meantime:

Pope Paul VI,
"From the time that we were called to the Chair of St. Peter, we have constantly worked to increase the worship of Mary (culto mariano)" [per il retto ordinamento e sviluppo del culto della beata Vergine Maria - esortazione apostolica di Sua Santita Paolo VII, Page 2]
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The whole Trinity, O Mary, gave thee a name...above every name, that at Thy name, every knee should bow, of things in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.” (The Glories of Mary by Bishop Alphonse de Ligouri (Brooklyn: Redemptorist Fathers, p. 260).

The Holy Church commands a worship peculiar to Mary (The Glories of Mary by Bishop Alphonse de Ligouri p. 130).

Many things...are asked from God, and are not granted; they are asked from Mary, and are obtained, for She...is even Queen of Hell, and Sovereign Mistress of the Devils.” (The Glories of Mary by Bishop Alphonse de Ligouri (Brooklyn: Redemptorist Fathers, 1931). pp. 127, 141, 143).

Mary is the co-redeemer, for she participated with Christ in the painful act of redemption. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 618, 964, 968, 970) “All power is given to thee in Heaven and on earth, so that at the command of Mary all obey-even God...and thus...God has placed the whole Church...under the dominion of Mary (pp. 180-181). Mary is also the Advocate of the whole human race...for she can do what she wills with God” (The Glories of Mary by Bishop Alphonse de Ligouri (Brooklyn: Redemptorist Fathers, p. 193).

The Glories of Mary: "Mary is called the gate of heaven, because no one can enter that blessed kingdom without passing by her" (p.134)

"And shall we scruple to ask her to save us, when 'the way of salvation is open to none otherwise than thru Mary.'" (p.143)

"He who is protected by Mary will be saved; he who is not will be lost." (p.144)

The Glories of Mary: "All power is given to thee in heaven and on earth, and nothing is impossible to thee, who canst raise those who are in despair to the hope of salvation." (p.154)

"At the command of Mary, all obey, even God." (p.155)

"Yes, Mary is omnipotent." (p.155)

"This great Virgin, who is the Mother of your God and Judge, is also the Advocate of the whole human race : fit for this office, for she can do what she wills with God." (p.171-172)

The Glories of Mary: "We often more quickly obtain what we ask by calling on the name of Mary than by invoking that of Jesus." (p.228)

"For she ... is our salvation, our life, our hope, our counsel, our refuge, our help." (p.230)

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Ligouri, the Glories of Mary

Apart from the passage from Paul VI, nothing you quote is a binding statement.

As for that passage, it is clearly meant to mean the same thing that is meant in Kevin's favorite passage. you might want to pass this along to him.

You can believe it means whatever you want. Don't let the explanations of actual Catholics get in the way.

SD

As is often the case, only Paul Tillich manages to deal with the matter with some sense of proportion: Paul Tilich : A History of Christian Thought, Page 78 "The (holy ) Spirit was replaced in actual piety by the Holy Virgin. The virgin who gave birth to God acquired divinity herself to a certain extent, at least for popular piety."

Which, to me, is like the evangelical tendency to swallow up the Trinity in the person of Jesus, what has been called the unitarianism of the 2nd Person.