We don’t worship Mary — we venerate her because of her important role in salvation history as the Theotokos (“God-bearer” or Mother of God).

Because of our Blessed Mother’s  total and free yes to God’s will, the “Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (cf. John 1:14).

Click here to learn more about what Catholics believe about Mary.

The office of the Papacy is rooted in Scriptures, prefigured in the Old Testament with the office similar to that of a “prime minister” (see Isaiah 22, the story of Shebna and Eliakim), and fulfilled in Matthew 16, when Jesus gives St. Peter the power to bind and loose, as well as the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.

After the death of St. Peter, our first Pope, the office of the papacy has continued down through the centuries. Check out the links below to learn more:

• Peter and the Papacy (Catholic Answers)
• Dr. Scott Hahn on the Papacy (Catholic-Pages)

First, nothing merits our own justification, since that is God’s own gift and not because of our own works (Ephesians 2:8-10). However, after this “initial grace of forgiveness and justification…at the beginning of conversion” (CCC 2010), we participate in our ongoing salvation through the good works that God wills for us.

Click here to learn more on what Catholics believe about salvation.

In John 6:55, Jesus tells his disciples, “…for my flesh is true food, and my blood true drink.”

Catholics believe that Christ is really and substantially present in the Eucharist. This belief in the real presence goes all the way back to the apostles and the Early Church.

Click here to learn more on what Catholics believe about the Eucharist.

Catholics pray to the saints because, having attained the eternal reward of heaven, they can intercede for us. Revelation 5:8 and 8:3-4 show us that the saints in heaven “offer to God the prayers of the saints on earth.”

Click here to learn more on what Catholics believe about the saints.

“Catholics recognize that the true ‘rule of faith’ is Scripture plus apostolic tradition, as manifested in the living teaching authority of the Catholic Church, to which were entrusted the oral teachings of Jesus and the apostles, along with the authority to interpret Scripture correctly.”

Click here to read: Scripture and Tradition

Church teaching defines purgatory as a “purification so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven” for those “who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified” (CCC 1030).

Purgatory is not a “second chance” or an addition to heaven and hell. Souls in purgatory are already assured of heaven.

Click here to learn more on what Catholics believe about purgatory.

Dr. Brant Pitre: Purgatory in the Bible

Catholics don’t worship statues — or other icons and images.

When a person is moved to tears when looking at a photograph of a loved one who has since passed, the object of his/her emotions is not the photograph itself, but the person in the photograph.

Similarly, when Catholics bow or pray before statues or icons, we don’t worship or venerate these things — that would be idolatry.

Click here to read: So Catholics Worship Statues?