Are Catholics practicing idolatry by venerating statues of the Virgin Mary and various saints?
That would depend upon your definition of idolatry. Obviously, the Catholics (or the Eastern Orthodox … or the Copts, the Nestorians, the Mar-Thoms, et al.) don’t regard it as idolatry. The Catholic/Orthodox concept of idolatry basically amounts to: 1) Fetishism – belief in magical objects/tools to do what YOU want (especially treating God Himself as one), and … 2) Putting ones ultimate faith in, or believing one can find ultimate happiness in someone or something other than God. Given the number of holy objects and sacred images ordained in the Book of Exodus, it would seem that the Catholic/Orthodox understanding is in keeping with the intent of the Commandment against idolatry. But one should make a distinction between Catholicism in theory and in practice. The cult of the Virgin and the Saints – when observed in keeping with actual Catholic theology – does not violate the commandment. (There is nothing idolatrous about drawing inspiration from contemplating/venerating Mary and
