Answer: Although you have not actually asked any specific questions, it should be obvious that your comments need to be addressed. It is readily apparent that you have done little or no research in order to try to understand what Catholics truly believe and the foundations for these beliefs. This forum is not meant to be and avenue of apologetics, so I will briefly address your statements rather than going into any item in depth. I would suggest that before you continue to attack the Catholic Church that you purchase the Catechism of the Catholic Church and begin a systematic study. You are bearing false witness against the Catholic Church. Catholics too, believe that Jesus is the one mediator between man and God. Jesus was the bridge between sinful man and His Immortal Father, in the sense that His sacrifice on the cross paid for the sins of mankind and open the gates of heaven. Jesus ransomed us from the pains of death. This does not mean that others cannot mediate or intercede with God. Each time a person prays for the health or wellbeing of another they become a mediator and intercessor, and prayer for one another is certainly supported in Holy Writ. I must say that your reference to Duet. 18:10-14 is confusing. The passages refer to the abominable practices of the Jews wherein they offered their children to the pagan god Molech. The rosary is not a pagan practice; it is a most perfect form of prayer.Can you prove that Mary was not immaculately conceived without the taint of Original Sin? Can you prove that Mary was not assumed into heaven at the end of her earthly life? Can you prove that asking those who have gone before us, marked with the sign of faith, to intercede for us, is against basic Christian principles? Prayers for the dead and intercessory prayer have their roots in Judaism and go back 5,000 years. The strongest proof for the Assumption according to “Munificentissimus Deus” is the unanimous faith of the people and their pastors. This remarkable accord of the Catholic bishops and faithful enlightened by the Holy Spirit existed in the Church for centuries. In a matter of so great importance that Church cannot make a mistake or be deceived for the Lord himself promised to be with the Church until the end of time. Pope Pius XII, therefore, do not receive or claim to receive a new revelation from above, nor did he invent a new doctrine of the Church. He simply declared in his definition what the faithful and the bishops had already believed. In a word, he was dependent on the lived faith of the people. It would be more accurate to say the Pope defined the Assumption because Catholics believed in it, than to say Catholics believed in it because the Pope defined it.
For further information, I would recommend “Munificentissimus Deus” also, “The Assumption of Mary” by Killian Healy, O. Carm. “Queen of the Universe, An Anthology on the Assumption and Queenship of Mary”, Mathews, Stanley. Grail 1957 St. Meinrad Indiana; and “The Glorious Assumption of the Mother of God”, Duhr, Joseph, S.J., NY: P.J. Kennedy & Sons c. 1950.
Further, concerning Mary: Let me state at the outset that the CATHOLIC CHURCH CONDEMNS THE WORSHIP OF ANYTHING OR ANYONE OTHER THAN GOD, IN THE TRINITY. This includes Mary, the mother of our risen Lord. Catholics do not worship Mary in any way, shape, or form.Worship denotes a kind of honor, which in turn is a sign of esteem given a person for his or her excellence. But in religious matters, worship adds to honor or esteem the sense of one’s own inferiority and subjection with respect to the person honored. Since God is the Supreme Being and the Absolute Lord of the universe, to him is due worship in the highest degree. The technical name for the worship of God is adoration or latreutic worship (from the ancient Greek word latreia, which meant the service given to the gods). The lesser form of veneration given to the angels and saints that Catholicism recognizes has the theological name of dulia (from the Greek term douleia, which means the respect shown to a master by his servant). The Blessed Virgin is said to be honored with hyperdulia, i.e., a higher form of what is essentially the same veneration paid to other creatures among the saints but in essence unlike the adoration given only to God. We adore God because of His infinite uncreated excellence (Latria); we venerate Our Lady (Hyperdulia) and the saints (Dulia) because of the manifestation of God’s excellence in them. No person or thing should take the place of God, or be honored in a manner due to God alone, for this is idolatry, which God forbade. All worship not directed to God Himself must be subordinate to Him (Ex. 20:3-5; Deut. 5:9; John 4:22).
The veneration Catholics pay to the saints is not based on emotionalism and sentimentality, but on sound theological reason and pure common sense. When we honor the saints, we honor God because they are the jewels of His creation. And when we honor the Blessed Virgin, we are honoring the Queen of all saints. Today, there is much misunderstanding, outside the Catholic Church, concerning the Catholic practice of honoring Mary and the saints. The word in the Bible for “saint” or “saints” is the Greek word “hagios” also translated “sanctified” or “holy ones.” The root word “hazo,” means “to venerate.” Hagios means to be separated from sin and therefore consecrated to God. Why should we honor the saints? The answer is straight forward; because God did! God provided the necessary grace, through faith, to enable these men and women to live lives of heroic sanctity. If God honored the saints, shouldn’t we do the same? God honored Mary in a very special way by choosing her, among all His creatures to be the Mother of His Incarnation. It is certainly logical to believe that God protected Mary even from original sin.If you were God (Jesus) and had the ability to create your own mother, would you allow blemishes, either physical of spiritual, or would you make her perfect in every way? Holy Scripture is very clear that nothing profane can come into contact with God and live (1 Chron. 13:10). Since Mary was to be the vessel in Whom Jesus, the Incarnate Son of God, would be conceived and nurtured, she would have had to be a pure vessel, without any taint of sin. She would have to have been conceived in her mother Anne’s womb without sin. Catholics call this the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX solemnly defined it as an article of faith “that, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ the Savior of the human race, the Blessed Virgin Mary in the first instant of her conception was, by a unique grace and privilege of almighty God, preserved from all stain of original sin.”Further, if it were within your power, would you ever allow your mother to be under the influence of the Evil One? God honored Mary by choosing her, above every other human being who would ever live, to be the Mother of Jesus. If God honored Mary in such a way, should not we honor her also? By honoring Mary and the saints we are simply emulating God.If I honored your mother, would not you be pleased. If I insulted your mother in any way, would you not be hurt or even angry. Honoring Mary is certainly pleasing to Jesus.The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “’All generations will call me blessed’:
‘The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship.’ The Church rightly honors the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of ‘Mother of God,’ to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs…. This very special devotion … differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit and greatly fosters this adoration.’ The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an ‘epitome of the whole Gospel,’ express this devotion to the Virgin Mary’” (§971). The Decalogue commands that we honor our fathers and mothers. Jesus would have fulfilled this commandment, in reference to Mary – perfectly; He could do no less. Catholics simply ask Mary, in prayer, to present our petitions to her Son. Certainly, we can go directly to Jesus with our requests, but what loving son would refuse his mother any request within his power to grant?What loving son, would ignore his mother? Would you not grant her every wish? Catholics rely on the love Jesus had for His mother, by asking her to intercede for us before His throne. We fly unto her protection, knowing that under her mantel we will be sheltered and protected. Mary is not only Jesus’ mother, but she is our mother as well. When Jesus gave His mother to John at the foot of the Cross, He gave her also to the Church, the living Body of Christ. By placing himself under the protection of the Blessed Mother, Pope John Paul II was honoring Jesus in a sublime way. Mary is our mother and we are her children. We can rest in her loving arms in the same way that our blessed Lord did so many years ago, and as He continues to do so today. Mary never stopped being the mother of Jesus.Jesus’ love for Mary was perfect then as it is perfect now. We must continue to emulate Our Lord and Savior. Ask Mary to lead you to a closer relationship with Jesus. There is nothing she would rather do.Hail Mary, full of grace. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.