According to Vatican II, the veneration of images in prayer and religious worship is acceptable and does not contravene any of God’s commandments.

Par 2132 says , “The Christian veneration of images is not contrary to the first ommandment, which proscribes idols. Indeed, ‘the honour rendered to an image passes to its prototype’, and ‘whoever venerates an image venerates the person portrayed in it’. The honour paid to sacred images is ‘a respectful veneration’ not the adoration due to God alone”.

The same could be said by all false religions that parade their images and proclaim that they are showing a respectful veneration of the persons portrayed and not the adoration due to God alone.

Such a practice violates the Second Commandment which forbids the making of images for religious purposes.

Dermot Nash