Who is worshiped?

Catholics says that they worship only One God but with three person, God the Father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit. They also say that they do not worship idols, or foreign gods besides the One God with three person. They claim that they are not guilty of idolatry and they do not have any act of Idolatry.

The thing is, IS THIS TRUE?


Well, let us see...

San Augustine pueblo de lubao

San Gregorio de Magno

Our Lady of Immaculate Concepcion, Baclayon

San Pedro De Alcantara, Pakil

Church of San Bartolome

Basilica del Sto. Nino, Cebu

Baclayon Church

Sta. Ana de sapa

Thesaurus
2.altar - a raised structure on which gifts or sacrifices to a god are made.
source: thefreedictionary.com

Altar
noun 1. an elevated place or structure, as a mound or platform, at which religious rites are performed or on which sacrifices are offered to gods, ancestors, etc.
source: dictionary.reference.com

I thought, only one God with three person are worshiped??? Then, who are those in the retablo? Which they kneel down and pray for when they are having worship services? Are their Saints and their God with three person are of same level, that's why they are all in the retablo?^^


Catholic Altars vs. Pagan Altars: All guilty of Idolatry
If that will be the case, what will be its difference to pagan religions in the world??? Is there any difference?

Buddhist Altar

Hindu Altar

Jain Altar

Sikh Altar



Taoist Altar



Confusian Altar



Shinto Altar

Some of these Pagan Religions claims that they are not idol worshipers like what the Catholic Church is claiming. But their action is contrary to their words, which make them GUILTY OF IDOLATRY.

As of biblical basis, God did not commanded people to make images and so on to be WORSHIPED, that is why those things were destroyed when people began worshiping it.

"You must not have any other gods except me.You must not make for yourselves an idol that looks like anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the water below the land.You must not worship or serve any idol, because I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God. If you hate me, I will punish your children, and even your grandchildren and great-grandchildren." exo. 20:3-5

Guilty of Idolatry

Most churches that have statues, images and so on in their chapels says that they do not worship those, they are just showing veneration and respect. 

But the truth is, even they deny it, they cannot escape that they are guilty of Idolatry...

Lets see if they really do:

MEANING OF ‘worship’ IN THE DICTIONARY:
>The reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object.
>The ceremonies, prayers, or other religious forms by which this love is expressed.
>Ardent devotion; adoration.
>To regard with ardent or adoring esteem or devotion.

THESAURUS:
>The act of adoring, especially reverently: adoration, idolization, reverence, veneration.
>Deep and ardent affection: adoration, devotion, love..
>To regard with great awe and devotion: adore, idolize, revere, reverence, venerate. > To feel deep, devoted love for: adore, love.

Whatever their explanation in the use of their images, statues and so on in their homes and churches still, they are guilty of Idolatry!
 
Catholic catechism requires that members should have for themselves idols or images to worship:

“13. Is the worship of the saints confined to their persons?—No; it extends also their relics and images… 15. Ought we to worship holy images?-- We should have, particularly in our churches, images of our lord, as also of the blessed Virgin and the saints, and we should pay them due honor and veneration.” Catechism of Christian doctrine, no. 3, p. 87

Eduard Syndicus, a Jesuit Priest says:

“Moreover, following other schoolmen, Thomas also showed in a wonderful section of his summa Theologica, his understanding of the irrational element in the cult image and its veneration: When one turns to an image, he says in so far as it is a thing—either a painting or a statue—it deserves the same reverence as Christ himself. ‘Since Christ is worshipped with humble veneration, it follows that his image, too, must be worshipped with (relatively) humble veneration’ ”
(Summa Theol. III, pu. 25, art. 3, Early Christian Art, p.151)

 ____________________

“And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.” Rom. 1:23

These images are: images of man, of birds, of four-footed beasts, and of creeping things.


Are these images can found in the Catholic Church?

Yes! For instance, it has a Saint Francis of Assisi, with whose image are images of birds; Saint Isidore, with whom is an image of a cow (a four-footed beast); La purisima Concepcion and Saint Martha, with the image of a snake and a crocodile (both creeping animals), respectively.

But what does the bible says about such things?

"You must not have any other gods except me.You must not make for yourselves an idol that looks like anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the water below the land.You must not worship or serve any idol, because I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God. If you hate me, I will punish your children, and even your grandchildren and great-grandchildren." exo. 20:3-5

"But cowards, those who refuse to believe, who do evil things, who kill, who sin sexually, who do evil magic, who worship idols, and who tell lies—all these will have a place in the lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." Rev. 21:8

"Those who worship idols should be ashamed; they brag about their gods. All the gods should worship the Lord." Psalms 97:7

"They knew God, but they did not give glory to God or thank him. Their thinking became useless. Their foolish minds were filled with darkness.They said they were wise, but they became fools. They traded the glory of God who lives forever for the worship of idols made to look like earthly people, birds, animals, and snakes. They traded the truth of God for a lie. They worshiped and served what had been created instead of the God who created those things, who should be praised forever. Amen." Rom. 1:21-23,25