You raise a very good question. Thanks for writing to Disciples Now!

If you're really praying to the statue, you are indeed an idol worshipper! And YOU'RE IN BIG TROUBLE!

But the Catholic Church uses statues a lot like the way you use photos in your house. I bet you don't love the photos themselves. You love the people whose images are in the photos. You don't think the photos are powerful or can speak to you or do things for you. That's the attitude of Catholics toward statues in Church.

Idolatry is placing your confidence in a power other than God. So, you may be asking about the saint represented by the statue. Is it wrong to pray to the saints? Well, if you think they answer on their own, YES, it's wrong. But saints--on earth or in heaven--aren't engaged in some popularity contest, seeing who has the most statues or who gets the most prayers flung their way. Saints are people who got to heaven by loving God. So when they hear a prayer, they bounce it right on up to God--and God sends the answer, not the saint (or maybe the saint acts as a messenger; I must confess I haven't BEEN to heaven to check it out just yet!)

Excuse me if this seems flippant, because I know your question is real. But, Alba, the bottom-line answer is this: The saints are not statues; the saints are with God. They are in communion (in continual contact) with God. It's all one wonderfully happy, powerful family--and when you honor one, you honor the whole family!