You said you are/were ROMAN Catholic. Then you know there are Catholics who are not of the Latin/Roman rite. I too have seen people talking to plaster statues in Roman churches but I cant see into their hearts if that statue is meant to remind them of that particular saint. We have icons in our churches specifically made to not look like a photo of a saint; Most icons in our churches show events in Jesus' life.
I am old enough to remember Vatican 2. Every day in religion class sister said she will follow the developments and report to us. Finally she said all the developments were related to Roman Catholics and does not affect us at all. All our churches stayed the same, very traditional.
In the years that followed I would occasionally go to a Roman Catholic church and was appalled at the level of disrespect before the Tabernacle, immodest dress*, parishioners fussing coming late and leaving early, mothers shouting over pews talking about Johnny's birthday party yesterday while others are praying the rosary. Even some homilies by Vat 2 priests.
Only 1 RC priest I heard say when he was in seminary the priest in charge would tell him 'you can skip that part' in mass. His response was I want to do it right, according to canon law.
Though we are considered 'under Rome' we have a Patriarch who oversees all that comes from Rome and determines if this is correct and can be followed.
I once saw in church a 30-something year old woman with a very low cut halter top and short-SHORT cut off jeans. She literally had to put her fingers up her crotch to pull down a little bit. As she went to communion her husband seemed pleased at all the people watching her.
You said you are/were ROMAN Catholic. Then you know there are Catholics who are not of the Latin/Roman rite. I too have seen people talking to plaster statues in Roman churches but I cant see into their hearts if that statue is meant to remind them of that particular saint. We have icons in our churches specifically made to not look like a photo of a saint; Most icons in our churches show events in Jesus' life.
I am old enough to remember Vatican 2. Every day in religion class sister said she will follow the developments and report to us. Finally she said all the developments were related to Roman Catholics and does not affect us at all. All our churches stayed the same, very traditional.
In the years that followed I would occasionally go to a Roman Catholic church and was appalled at the level of disrespect before the Tabernacle, immodest dress*, parishioners fussing coming late and leaving early, mothers shouting over pews talking about Johnny's birthday party yesterday while others are praying the rosary. Even some homilies by Vat 2 priests.
Only 1 RC priest I heard say when he was in seminary the priest in charge would tell him 'you can skip that part' in mass. His response was I want to do it right, according to canon law.
Though we are considered 'under Rome' we have a Patriarch who oversees all that comes from Rome and determines if this is correct and can be followed.