Welcome back! As mentioned before, the path of Catholicism isn’t an easy one. The further you walk it the rougher it gets. It’s like that same dirt road I mentioned before—but now the fog has rolled in, and you’re taken by a swift surprise.

One of the biggest claims I’ve heard many of times is that Catholics commit idolatry. That we worship statues, saints, and arguably one of the worst I’ve heard: We’ve somehow replaced God with images and figures. And I get it, as someone who wasn’t raised Catholic, it can look that way. I know it looked that way to me for the longest time. But looks can be deceiving, especially when you don’t know the tradition behind everything.

Here’s the truth simply put … For the most part.

Catholics do not worship statues, Saints, or anything other than God. What we do is venerate. There’s a massive difference. Worship is reserved for God alone. It’s called latria. Nobody else receives that. When Catholics honor saints, it’s called dulia, which is simply a way of showing respect for those who lived lives devoted to God. It’s no different than admiring a role model. Another common thing that’s misunderstood is prayer. It’s pretty similar to dulia … When we ask a saint to pray for us, it’s like asking a family member for their prayers. The misconception people tend to form is that we’re praying to a saint like we would God. Not true.

Another thing is this: statues and images aren’t idols, they’re reminders to the Church, and to the people. They’re visual representations meant to point us toward God, it is not a replacement. It’s just a tool, like a map on that dark road, helping guide our focus where it belongs.

Then there’s the claim that Catholics worship Mary. I’ve heard this one just as much, if not more. That we place her above God, that we pray to her instead of Him, I’ve often heard people say that “Catholics treat Mary like a God.”

That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Mary is honored, yes. Deeply. But never worshiped as we would worship God. Just like the saints, she is venerated. The reason she holds such a high place in Catholicism is because of her unique role in history. She said yes when it mattered most. She carried Christ into the world. That makes her an example of perfect obedience and faith.

At the end of the day a lot of these claims come from misunderstanding. From seeing something unfamiliar and making assumptions. I’ve lived through those assumptions. Heard the comments from others alike. But that’s exactly why I’m writing this.

To bring light to the truth.