I have often wondered about this. Is it really possible to be a Catholic in good standing without making any prayers of intercession to Mary and the saints, and without professing these things as necessary to salvation (or at least to being a Catholic)? Could one unwilling to make these prayers or affirm these doctrines be confirmed in the Church? They are obviously very important to Catholics.
Is there anything in Catholic doctrine that demands that a Catholic pray to Mary and the Saints?
But surely I would think all Christians have high regard for Mary and do honor her memory.
I used to believe this too but now I am convinced otherwise.
You walk into a building full of statues of Mary and various saints. What do you do about that? I would like to hear from just ONE Roman Catholic who can say they never in their lives knelt down and prayed before a statue. heck, we used to sing songs of praise and crown a statue of Mary with a crown of flowers on May Day.
Attending mass is a problem: various prayers that everyone recites in unison have words like "we pray to all the angels and saints". There are often references to "the ever-virgin Mary" and the "Mother of God". One prayer to Mary says, "Pray to us who have recourse to thee."
If you participate in praying a rosary, you must recite countless repetitions of what the Catholics call "The Hail Mary".
Catholics must beleive that Mary was conceived without sin (the Immaculate Conception) They teach that she did not give birth to Jesus in the usual way but that he passed out of her body as rays of sun through glass. If she had given birth, it might have anulled her virginity.
Believing that she was an eternal virgin? Whatever, there are arguments for and against her having more children but I believe she DID have other children which is against RC doctrine.
A Catholic must also believe that Mary was bodily assumed into heaven instead of dying. That's where all this intercession and stuff comes from. She's still alive, just like Jesus, in their minds.
So, if you don't believe these things, you cannot be a Catholic. I don't know how this can be reconciled.