"Catholic doctrines and practices are of pagan origen"
Catholic priest John F. Sullivan argues that the Catholic Church has adopted pagan practices and implemented them as part of "Catholic" doctrine because such practices are the "best from paganism":
"It is interesting to note how often our Church has availed herself of practices whichÂ* were in common use amongÂ* Â* pagans... Thus it is true, in a certain sense, thatÂ* Catholic rites and ceremonies are reproduction of those of pagans creeds; but they are the taking of what was best from paganism, the keeping of symbolical practices which express the religious instinct that is common to all races and times." (Rt. Rev. Msgr. John F. Sullivan. D.D. The External of the Catholic Church. p.226
BUT THE TRUE Christian neither subscribe to pagan ways nor go beyond the teaching of the Holy Scriptures.The apostles instructed:
"Here then is my word to you, and I urge it on you in the Lord's name: give up living as pagans do with their futile notions."(Eph. 4:17)
"Now , brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, 'Do not go beyond what is written'. Then you will not take pride in one man over against another."(1 Cor.4:6)
"Catholics worship images"
Catholic catechism requires that members should have for themselves idols or images to images to worship:
Ought we to worship holy images?Â* "We should have, particularly in our churches, images of Our Lord, as also of the Blessed Virgin and the saints, and we should pay them due honor and veneration."(Catechism of Christian Doctrine. p.87)
BUT THE BIBLE teaches otherwise .God prohibits His people from having other gods besides Him or from worshiping idols or images.Those who defy this commandment will be punished:
"You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image - any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth ; You shall not bow downÂ* to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me."(Exo.20:3-5)
"...those who worship idols, and all liars - the place for them is the lake of fire and sulfur, which is the second death." (Rev. 21:
"Catholics offer Mass and perform rituals for the dead"
Catholics are taught that they can help in relieving the sufferings of the departed whose souls are in the so-called purgatory by offering Mass and performing rituals for them:
The faithful on earth, through the communion of saints, can relieve the sufferings of the souls in purgatory by prayer, fasting, and other good works, by indulgences, and by having Masses offered for them." (Louis LaRavoire Morrow,D.D. My Catholic Faith. p.243)
HOWEVER, EVEN CATHOLIC priest admit that the Bible does not mention of a realm such as purgatory. Offering prayers and other sacrifices for the dead is against the teachings of the Bible, for the dead have no share in anything that the living do:
"Nowhere in the Scriptures does the word 'Purgatory' occur... "(Joseph Kenney, C.S.S.R. Purgatory: A Doctrine of Comport and Hope.p.2)
"For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten . Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; nevermore will they have a share in anything done under the sun."(Eccl. 9:5-6)
" For I testify to everyone who hears the words of this book :
if anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;
And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." (Revelation 22:18-19)