Short Answers to Common Objections to Catholocism

1. Catholics Worship Mary
Well, some might...but it is against Catholic doctrine. Catholics are firmly taught that to worship anyone other than God is Blasphemy and Idolatry.

Anyone worshiping Mary is committing grave sin. Simple as that. Unfortunately, there are people out there who, rather than being interested in spreading the Good News of Christ, are most interested in spreading misinformation about Catholics. 
Read more about Mary's role in Christ's Church

2. Works, as a means to Salvation
Again; this is against Catholic teaching.

We believe as Scripture teaches:  "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast." Eph 2:8-9

Many more passages confirm that we are not saved by works; which is exactly what Catholics are taught.

None of them, though, diminish the importance of works, they simply pointing out that we should not boast about our works...or assume that they are the means of our salvation.

Works are the evidence of our Faith, not the means of it.

Jas 2:14 "What good is it, my brothers, is a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?"

Titus 2:11-14 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

John 7:18 He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.

Eph 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Eph 4:12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

Phillipians 2:13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

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3. Catholics Don't Believe the Bible is the "Sole Authority"
That is correct.

Catholics believe that Scripture is inspired by God and without error; therefore nothing that the Church teaches can conflict with it.

But...

Recall that nowhere to we read that Christ instructed his Apostles to write.  He instructed them to teach - and gave them the authority over those that they taught.

Jesus did not come to give a book.  He came to establish a kingdom - and that is His Church. And it is through his church that the "canon" of Scripture was determined. The bishops and elders of the church, under the inspiration and guidance of the Holy spirit, discerned what, among the many writings ought to be considered Scripture.

The Catholic Church affirms that Sacred Scripture teaches "firmly, faithfully and without error that truth which God wanted to put into sacred writings for the sake of our salvation"

However the writen word of God is not the only source of teaching and guidance for god's people. Nowhere does the Bible teach this.

The Bible actually denies that it is sufficient as the complete rule of faith:  Paul says that much Christian teaching is to be found in the tradition which is handed down by word of mouth (2 Tim. 2:2) - and he instructs us to "stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter" (2 Thess. 2:15).

See, also, the special Authority described in Ephesians 3:
2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets.

The Church is guided by the Holy Spirit, who protects Christ's teaching from corruption (John 14:25-26, 16:13).

Remember: the writings of the New Testament did not come to Christians until decades after Christ ascended...and that they were not considered scripture until centuries afterwards.

As is the case with many issues, volumes have been written on this subject, so my goal here is brevity that elicits and encourages dialog.

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