Roman Catholics don't worship and pray to saints or to Mary, they ask them to intercede with God on their behalf. "... Holy Mary, Mother of God PRAY FOR US SINNERS..."

Those who exalt the Pope to a position of extreme adulation do so from a point of tradition. In the early centuries of Christianity, there was no real centre, especially after Jerusalem fell to the Romans in AD 70. However, after a while several centres developed: Byzantium/Constantinople, Rome, Antioch amongst them. Although there were other centres as well (including Damascus, Nicaea, Lyon, Alexandria, Edessa), these eventually came to recognise five centres, all of which claimed founding by an apostle, as pre-eminent. They were Jerusalem , Antioch, Rome, Alexandria, and Byzantium. As Jerusalem, Alexandria and Antioch fell to Islamic armies towards the Middle Ages, this left Byzantium and Rome as the two major centres, Rome looking after the remains of the western Roman empire and Byzantium looking after the remains of the Eastern Empire. They were equals in authority, neither had supremacy over the other UNTIL the Bishop of Rome claimed certain rights of the pagan Pontifex Maximus of the Romans, (whose title was His Holiness)and began to speak as if he were superior to the Patriarch of Constantinople. This led to bad blood, and an eventual mutual excommunication in 1054.By this time, both centres had adopted practices from ancient religions and imported them into Christianity, to the point that it resembled , very little, in form, and in practice (in many areas) New Testament Christianity. The schism of 1054, led to the Pope claiming primacy over the entire Christian church and to his instituting more and more non-Biblical practices. The personage of the Pope rose and rose until it achieved the status it has now. The truth is: he calls himself the Vicar or Stand-in of Christ, but Christ needs no one to hold this position. Christ is the only Mediator between God and man. The position of Mary has risen in the Roman Catholic Church in proportion to the extent that tradition has triumphed over Biblical teaching. Mary, though a holy woman, herself said that she needed a Saviour (Luke 1:47), indicating that she was a sinner, and that she knew it. She tried to hold Jesus back from his task in several stages, but gradually realised she could not and submitted herself to him. The last we hear of her is in the Upper Room at Pentecost, and then she disappears from history, as she would have wanted. It is people who were used to a Mother Goddess that exalted Mary to the position she now has in the RC church, as conceived without sin, as Mediatrix, as Queen of Heaven, all of which have NO foundation in Scripture, but derive from pagan MOther goddess beliefs. Sorry to sound so negative to my Catholic brethren, but God gave us the Scriptures for a good reason: to keep our teaching and beliefs straight. If a tradition contradicts Scripture, it is the tradition that has to make way, not the Scriptural teaching.

The Pope is chosen by God to lead the Roman Catholic Church and is a very holy man who has given his life in service to God and mankind, "HIS HOLINESS" is appropriate don't you think? I think there is a difference between worshiping and the admiration that catholics feel for Mary Mother of God and the Saints. These holy people are examples and Catholics strive to be like them. Catholics ask Mary and the Saints to make intercessions to God on their behalf. In other words ask for their help. Have you ever asked someone to write a letter of recommendation or to "put in a good word" for you?

Those are not Gods at all. The pope is just like the president of the country -which I think is a bit much. They do give him to much power. Like every other large orgainzation there has to be money there. I try to separate those people from the higher power. Saints and Mary the mother are exactly who they are. Some believe she will help when we pray. There are saints that walk among us now --just not documented. If you research each, they have done some very nice things -as the stories go. So yes we pray for the sick,the lost ect --because they are great followers of the faith and of our Lord -- regardless what you believe or whatever you call him yawah Jesus ect there is one devine power. The laws of men --are just what they are -to suit themselves and now to generate money --believe me Priest live quit well. Some just to hide their sexual desires ..but we are all human

We are not to put our will or Mans doctrine before Gods doctrine. The Catholic belief is a false one. Jesus warned us about those who will come to deceive! Please put your faith in God and his true word-denominational churches are Satans playground! He warned us not to separate -or- call ourselves anything other than a Christian(Babtists, Catholics, Methodist) Crazy world.. Ask Jesus into your life, seek babtism at a non-denominational church and continue to read his word and grow-Do not trust in man, The Catholic religion will take you to the path of damnation!