Because the catholic church has the pope so what he says can overrule whats in the Bible because his world is supposed to be infallable. I guess a long time ago the pope at the time allowed people to do it. Remember that the roman catholic church was adapted to suit the romans of the time who used to worhip icons and worshipped many Gods in their pagan religion.

Catholics don't worship Mary, they venerate her. In the Catholic tradition, veneration is considered a special form of honouring, separate from worship. They derive this doctrine from certain Old Testament passages, such as Joshua 5:14, where the Archangel Michael is venerated. The Hebrew word for veneration (in the sense of honouring a king) is the same as the word for worship, which is why the Catholics created two categories. I'm an atheist these days, but I was raised Catholic. Hope this helps.

The Catholic Church considers it a sin for anyone to pray to Saints or Mary. Catholics venerate Saints and Mary, but cannot not worship them without sinning. The Catholic Church would probably argue that it is wrong to focus on brief Biblical passages and not take them in context.They would probably say that things have moved on since the time of Deuteronomy and that the traditions of the Church are every bit as important as the Bible. In Catholicism,addressing Mary or a Saint in prayer is only permissable if it is to ask them to pray for you. Ultimately, the Church believes that the Popes have been authorised by Jesus to make decisions on what can and cannot be done. Of coarse, as a non-Christian, I do not believe a word of this myself.

They ask for their help... "Novina" They are not worshipping them as that is a sin in Catholic belief. Thats why it says "Pray for us sinners at the hour of our death."

Catholics should not worship saints or any kind because the Lord has said not to worship any idols, worship God and God alone, you dont need someone to pray for you because if you pray for yourself God will still hear you, he will never leave you or forsake you no matter what.

First and foremost, we don’t worship Mary, the Saints, statues, flowers, grass, clouds…or anything the protestants may try to convince us that we worship. We worship GOD in the form of the trinity, just like most protestants (excluding those Jehovah’s). For some very detailed (and free) talks, check out John Martignoni at http://www.biblechristiansociety.com/download. The long and the short of it is we venerate Mary and the Saints. It is just like keeping a picture of grandma in your wallet (regardless of whether she is still alive). Looking at the picture reminds us of weekends and grandma’s house, homemade pie, and Christmas dinners long ago. Why not remind ourselves of those who lived saintly lives (as did Mary and the Saints). They remind us how to live. The other aspect, of course, is praying TO Mary and the Saints. They are in heaven, very close to GOD, especially Mary. If you would be willing to ask your friends to pray for you before surgery, for example, why not ask those close to God in Heaven to pray for you? prayer and worship is different mean. worship is only one God we can worship to. prayer is like we need to ask to pray for some one who needs. read james 5;16. hope does that help!! rosary is not worship it prayer for us!! hail mary is from on Luke 1 read this! and bless are you among women read ahead with luke in bible!! Jesus is God right? so God of mother Jesus's mother NAME is mary right? pray for us. be careful with words hope does it help!

Heresies created & manipulated by the Vatican (the great whore): 431AD - The worship of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the use of the term, "Mother of God", as applied to her, originated in the Council of Ephesus 788AD - Worship of the cross, images and relics was authorized This was by order of Dowager Empress Irene of Constantinople, who first caused to pluck the eyes of her own son, Constantine VI, and then called a church council at the request of Hadrian I, pope of Rome at that time. Such practice is called simply IDOLATRY in the Bible, and is severely condemned. (Read Ex. 20:4; 3:17; Deut. 27:15; Psalm 115). 890AD - The veneration of St. Joseph began 1508AD - The Ave Maria, part of the last It was completed 50 years afterward and finally approved by Pope Sixtus V, at the end of the 16th century. 1834AD - The Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary was proclaimed by Pope Pius IX The Bible states that all men, with the sole exception of Christ, are sinners. Mary herself had need of a Savior. (Read Rom. 3:23; 5:12; Psa. 51:5; Luke 1:30,46,47). 1931AD - In the year 1931 the same pope Pius XI, reaffirmed the doctrine that Mary is "the Mother of God". This doctrine was first invented by the Council of Ephesus in the year 431. This is a heresy contrary by Mary's own words. (Read Luke 1:46-49; John 2: l-5). 1950AD - In the year 1950 the last dogma was proclaimed by Pope Pius XII, the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. My 2 cents.

This is one major reason I have switched from the Catholic faith i was brought up in to Christianity.

As a raised Catholic, I was taught not to worship other than God. However, praying to saints and the mother of God is not worshipping, it is veneration. So, why do Catholics pray to Mary and Saints? Because we venerate them.

In early modern English and even until the early 19th century, the word "pray" meant "to make a request of someone". So when Catholics pray to their saints, they are not worshipping them; they are simply asking for the saints to intervene on their behalf and put in a good word for them with the man upstairs. I see nothing wrong with it. If God is a father, then the saints are much like one's extended family. In an earthly family, having a close bond with an aunt or grandparent doesn't usually preclude one's relationship to one's father.

This question will not be answered to everyones satisfaction until the wicked are destroyed at Armageddon... Catholics claim they do not pray TO images of Mary and the 'saints', but only venerate them...but to venerate IS to worship. And when you stand in front of any image and bow your head and 'cross' yourself...this IS worship. But why wait until Armageddon to find out whether you have been right or wrong? should we not look at ALL the scriptures to find the truth. Are you willing to hang your life on what a priest teaches...? Are you complying with what Jesus taught? Matthew 28; 19,20 Why would Jesus call someone his Father? Unless it WAS his Father. Who did Jesus pray to? WHO spoke from heaven when Jesus was baptised? (Mark 9:7) And a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud: “This is my Son, the beloved; listen to him.” Surely this was not Jesus talking about himself...the ultimate split personality... Jesus and his father to two separate beings... So this cancels the claim that Mary is the mother of God...She is the mother of Jesus.

This answer won't go down very well with a lot of Catholics but the fact is that whether it is your intention to do so or not, for all intents and purposes you are praying to, bowing down to and worshipping Mary, and to a lesser degree some of the other saints. The Catholic Church can call it whatever it wishes to but that doesn't change the act itself. . An example that is sometimes used to justify this is Joshua 5:14 where Joshua supposedly falls to the ground in reverence or veneration of the Archangel Michael. The Catholic Church sees this as being the same as its congregation venerating Mary. . However, these two circumstances are entirely different. Firstly in Joshua 5:14 Michael is not named at all. It is just assumed that the figure before Joshua is Michael because of his position as Captain of the Lord's Host. In fact, in Joshua it does not even say that the figure is an angel. Joshua certainly doesn't know who the figure is. All he knows is that a very powerful figure is before him that has been sent from God. He falls to the ground out of reverence and respect for a powerful and holy being much superior to himself. Let's assume that it is Michael though. The situation is that Joshua is showing humbleness and respect to perhaps the 1st or 2nd most powerful of all God's creations. There is no prayer or worship of Michael here. Joshua is simply asking what the Lord wants him to do. There are no images of Michael either, he is there in person. Nor is this taking place in a temple or church during prayers to God. . Mary however, is not a holy angel or God’s Captain but an ordinary human being that died nearly 2000 years ago. When you kneel or bow before pictures or statues of her you are not simply showing your love or respect or veneration for Mary because she is not there to receive it. You are doing this to an image which incidentally, probably looks nothing like the real Mary anyway. You are also doing it in a place that is intended to be for the worship of God. Some people say that they are asking Mary to pray for them but this is illogical. Firstly it assigns to Mary the power to be able to receive and understand your requests or prayers, which there is no reason to think is true. Secondly it assumes that God is unable to receive your prayers without Mary as a go between which again there is no reason to assume is true either. Some people also say that what they are doing is a sign of their love for Mary. I would ask them how they can claim to love somebody that they have never met and of whom their total knowledge consists of a few short passages in NT. . Nobody can really say whether God views these actions as bad or not but why take the chance. People that do this kind of stuff should ask themselves why they are doing it. Neither God, Jesus nor Mary have instructed it and it is simply not necessary.

This answer won't go down very well with a lot of Catholics but the fact is that whether it is your intention to do so or not, for all intents and purposes you are praying to, bowing down to and worshipping Mary, and to a lesser degree some of the other saints. The Catholic Church can call it whatever it wishes to but that doesn't change the act itself. . An example that is sometimes used to justify this is Joshua 5:14 where Joshua supposedly falls to the ground in reverence or veneration of the Archangel Michael. The Catholic Church sees this as being the same as its congregation venerating Mary. . However, these two circumstances are entirely different. Firstly in Joshua 5:14 Michael is not named at all. It is just assumed that the figure before Joshua is Michael because of his position as Captain of the Lord's Host. In fact, in Joshua it does not even say that the figure is an angel. Joshua certainly doesn't know who the figure is. All he knows is that a very powerful figure is before him that has been sent from God. He falls to the ground out of reverence and respect for a powerful and holy being much superior to himself. Let's assume that it is Michael though. The situation is that Joshua is showing humbleness and respect to perhaps the 1st or 2nd most powerful of all God's creations. There is no prayer or worship of Michael here. Joshua is simply asking what the Lord wants him to do. There are no images of Michael either, he is there in person. Nor is this taking place in a temple or church during prayers to God. . Mary however, is not a holy angel or God’s Captain but an ordinary human being that died nearly 2000 years ago. When you kneel or bow before pictures or statues of her you are not simply showing your love or respect or veneration for Mary because she is not there to receive it. You are doing this to an image which incidentally, probably looks nothing like the real Mary anyway. You are also doing it in a place that is intended to be for the worship of God. Some people say that they are asking Mary to pray for them but this is illogical. Firstly it assigns to Mary the power to be able to receive and understand your requests or prayers, which there is no reason to think is true. Secondly it assumes that God is unable to receive your prayers without Mary as a go between which again there is no reason to assume is true either. Some people also say that what they are doing is a sign of their love for Mary. I would ask them how they can claim to love somebody that they have never met and of whom their total knowledge consists of a few short passages in NT. . Nobody can really say whether God views these actions as bad or not but why take the chance. People that do this kind of stuff should ask themselves why they are doing it. Neither God, Jesus nor Mary have instructed it and it is simply not necessary.

5:75 ((The Messiah, son of Mary, was not but a messenger; [other] messengers have passed on before him. And his mother was a supporter of truth. They both used to eat food. Look how We make clear to them the signs; then look how they are deluded)) 5:116-120 ((And [beware the Day] when Allah will say, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, 'Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah ?'" He will say, "Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen))

I think those verses in deutoronomy refer to the fact that "adonai" is the one and only god, and his jealous of anywhom to worship other gods, mainly Amun-ra. Mary and Saint are not in there right Gods, although mary can be identified as a fertility virgin goddess, similer to isis. Pharoah Ankanaten Priest killed tutankamun, for worshiping Amun, instead of the one and only adon.

The problem is that you don't understand the word "prayer." Catholics use the word in an old-fashioned sense, in which "to pray" means "to petition" or "to beg." This usage is pretty much dead outside the Catholic church, though you do still see it in the law, e.g., the "prayer for relief" which is contained in every legal complaint. So, when Catholics "pray" to Saints, what they are doing is asking their brothers and sisters in heaven to pray to God for them, just as Protestants (and Catholics, too) ask their brothers and sisters here on earth to pray for them. It isn't worship. The reason you think it is worship is because that's the only context you have in which you use the word "pray." Why do they ask their brothers and sisters in heaven to pray for them? Because, as the Bible teaches, "the prayer of a righteous man availeth much," and brothers and sisters who are in heaven must surely be righteous. Therefore, their prayers are especially efficacious. If your question was sincere, and not simply Catholic-baiting, this should answer it.

Because they are following traditions and NOT scripture. They have many many traditions that are not in line with the teachings in the bible. In my opinion they are a false version of Christianity. The record they hold through the ages can attest to that.

Catholics do not pray to Mary and the saints but rather ask them to interceed on their behalf. Catholics pray to God.

There is a difference in praying TO and Praying For. Intercessionary prayer is for Christians who are alive and with us today. NOT for Saints who passed on. Did any of the Apostles pray to the prophets or Abraham, Issac ,and Jacob or Moses. The Apostle Paul asks for intercessionary prayer from those who are ALIVE not to the Saints in Heaven. The Saints in Heaven cannot mediate for us they are NOT Omniscient.

They don't.

Catholics are in effect idol worshipers. They do worship God and Jesus but they do it through these so called saints.

Why indeed? Many Roman Catholics will claim that they do not pray to Mary but only ask her to pray for them. The official position of the Roman Catholic Church is that asking saints for their prayers is in no way different than asking someone here on earth to pray for you. Mary, in other words, is their intercessor. What does the Bible teach? 1 Tim. 2:5 (NIV) states the following: "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." Not mother Mary! Hebrew 7:25(NIV): "Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." That is Jesus, not mother Mary! Hebrew 4:16(NIV): "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." That is us approaching the Throne with confidence, not mother Mary on our behalf! Here is part of a prayer offered to Mary by pope Benedict XVI. Remember, this prayer is not offered by a congregation member but by the apparently most holy person to wander this earth: "Virgin Most Holy, Mother of the Incarnate Word and our Mother, venerated in the Shrine of Sheshan under the title "Help of Christians", the entire Church in China looks to you with devout affection. We come before you today to implore your protection. Look upon the People of God and, with a mother's care, guide them along the paths of truth and love, so that they may always be a leaven of harmonious coexistence among all citizens..." Really you guys??? But please, don't listen to me, open God's amazing Word and read for yourselves: John 8:12(NIV) When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." "As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me." Psalm 55:16 (KJV)

In the most well known catholic prayer, we say: Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners.... So we are just asking her to pray on our behalf.

Because the pronoun "them" in Deuteronomy is - rather obviously - not referring to saints, and because "bow down" does not mean "pray", and because "worship" does not mean "pray". It's like asking, "Why do Protestants have preachers if the Bible in Deuteronomy says, "You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, "

They don't worship Mary and saints; they do not regard them as gods. They regard them as intercessors who can speak for them to God and perhaps help see that their prayers are answered.