Fingers crossed! Otherwise... two Christmases :D

No, but what I said was "an outsider could be forgiven" for making that mistake, given the devotion and shrines to Mary...

I'll be honest he reads as just such a stereotypical ignorant American Dude that I just thought he was a bit of an idiot

I mean I think my point is fairly clear in how it relates to the specific news story I shared, I have no idea what yours is.

Just because they're made of fabric and fibrefill doesn't mean they aren't real!

Scrolling through my replies on the bus like *it's okay Emma your real life Catholic friends don't hate you for being sceptical and oh look there's a magpie*

That's also an aside from the point I'm making but I can tell you feel much more strongly about this than I do. I appreciate your input but this is not a days long discussion I wanted to have based on my interest in this news story😂

Well, if it was true there would have to be a rationalisation, otherwise you're saying your religion is irrational...

What are you talking about lmao. That's like... A common sense fallacy with no precedent

There's a bigger, angrier Catholic presence on this website than I expected haha...

I'm not upset, or offended. I've no idea where you got that idea. I'm an atheist and I like to discuss theology, so I'm just expressing my views.

I'm not mad about it and I don't automatically support everything that has a woman involved? Sounds like a sexist dudes gotcha tbh

Worth worshipping tbh

Well yes but that's sort of a side point to what we're discussing

How can a prayer be more effective if we're all created equal? :P I'm aware this is a question for Catholics and you're interceding on their behalf. (Much like Mary!)

God's ears can't hear everyone's prayers on His own?

That's certainly the link I've always made. Otherwise what's the modern rationalisation for it? Jesus too busy for everyone's prayers? Surely not

The whole concept of intercessory prayer seems a BIT dodgy- people praying to their local/favourite saints echoes ancient polytheism a little too closely to be high and mighty about people now ACTUALLY worshipping Mary instead of sort of worshipping Mary but pretending not to