>>88442354>people in general are theologically illiterate and in particular don't understand the difference between praying and worshipping.While you're right, it's not hard to se how people can get that impression when vast, vast communities of catholics (mainly outside the US/Europe) do kinda treat saints and such like minor deities. Just check out how things are in Latin America. It's Catholic central from Mexico all the way down to the southern tip of Chile, and they treat saints and the like minor deities that they can make deals and trade favors/blessings with rituals, pilgrimages or small sacrifices. Hell, there's even sport's team rivalries between local versions of the Virgin Mary.
I always remember the story of that one guy, can't remember if from the Philipines or south America, who had his prayers answered and in return promised to ritualistically crucify himself every year. Syncretism has royally fucked Catholicism, and you can't exactly cover your ears and dismiss them as fake catholic nonsense when they heavily outnumber the more "orthodox" (get it?) practitioners, and the Vatican also supports them because they're the countries where they still dominate.
