Don't you see, Ann...we can invent new words, and as long as the person that creates the doctrine is far enough up the spiritual totem pole...it's all good!
You might not be able to worship a piece of wood, but you can genuflect, or is it venerate/adorate/gesticulate//germinate/pontificate/rastafarianate/nothanksIjustate -- and that's just fine. As long as Pops says its fine...
Ridiculous assertion, assuming facts not in evidence.
The facts are in evidence.
The Bible commands that we are to worship God and him alone. All other worship is idolatry. That fact is clearly pointed out in the Ten Commandments. Any one with an understanding of the Ten Commandments would comprehend that one basic fact. Worship belongs to God alone.
2. The Catholic Church has invented words to circumvent that command.
The words are: latria, dulia, hyper-dulia.
These distinctions are not in the Bible. These are facts. They are not assumed. They are in evidence.
To pray before a statue of a dead saint is still worship.
To pray to a dead saint is still worship.
To pray to any image is still worship.
In fact all of the above is idolatry.
These are facts that are in existence as defined by the Bible, and denied by the RCC. They are defended by the RCC because they have taken the word "worship," and re-defined it. Worship is still worship, whether praying to God, or idolatry--praying to another, whether that person be alive or dead, or whether it be an image. Worship belongs only to God, and prayer is worship.