To Jacob: Mary was free of all sin which is why she ascended into heaven. She was not like everyone else because God supposedly wanted Jesus to be born to a perfect human. I agree with what you are saying and there are many problems with the Catholic church, but at the church i went to, we did not idolize images or statues or anything and Mary was someone to look up to and a Saint, but not a deity of any kind. Just some clarification.