*[https://lifeteen.com/blog/why-do-catholics-pray-to-statues/ Why do Catholics pray to statues? - Life Teen (lifeteen.com)]</ref> They are called "sacramentals", blessed by prayer as helps to devotional spirituality toward the worship of God.<ref>[https://www.catholicsacramentals.org/statues '''Catholic Sacramentals: Statues''' "''It is right to warn people against the sin of idolatry when they are committing it. But calling Catholics idolaters because they have images of Christ and the saints is based on misunderstanding or ignorance of what the Bible says about the purpose and uses (both good and bad) of statues.''" (catholicsacramentals.org)] The approved use of religious images commanded by God in the Bible, and at the same time the prohibition of ''worshiping'' them as gods.</ref> | *[https://lifeteen.com/blog/why-do-catholics-pray-to-statues/ Why do Catholics pray to statues? - Life Teen (lifeteen.com)]</ref> They are called "sacramentals", blessed by prayer as helps to devotional spirituality toward the worship of God.<ref>[https://www.catholicsacramentals.org/statues '''Catholic Sacramentals: Statues''' "''It is right to warn people against the sin of idolatry when they are committing it. But calling Catholics idolaters because they have images of Christ and the saints is based on misunderstanding or ignorance of what the Bible says about the purpose and uses (both good and bad) of statues.''" (catholicsacramentals.org)] The approved use of religious images commanded by God in the Bible, and at the same time the prohibition of ''worshiping'' them as gods.</ref> |