We Do Not Worship Idols Like Most People Think- Catholic Bishop Clarifies

The Catholic Bishop of Nnewi
Diocese, Most Rev. Hilary Paul Okeke has made it clear while speaking at the
Feast of Our Mother of Perpetual Help/Parish Day Celebration of Saints Michael,
Rapheal and Gabriel Catholic Church in Lagos that the church does not worship Mary
and other saints, that what they do is to venerate Mary, being the mother of
Jesus Christ.

“We do not worship idols as most
people think. Those who lack understanding of the word of God equate our
worship for the one true God with support from images and symbols as idolatry.
We worship God, worship Jesus Christ and we honour Mary and the Saints. Their
images in churches and homes before us represent holiness, sacraments and signs
of their presence in our life.

“Let us venerate Mary, Mother of
perpetual help for in venerating her, we are going to Jesus Christ. Let us have
her images in our individual homes as it will draw us to holiness, remember our
vocations, her images will draw us closer to Christ and do whatever Jesus
Christ commands us to do,” the bishop added.

 “We need Mary to help us to overcome in
whatever we do, to overcome various challenges in our families, marital and
extra marital co-affairs and s*x, polygamy, same s*x union, divorce and
suffering homes. Young ladies need Mary in order not to forsake their Catholic
faith by marrying outside the church”, he said.