Priest defends prayers to Mary after social media accusation of idol worship

A popular Catholic priest in Birmingham asked his social media followers to pray to the Virgin Mary this week, then defended the practice when he was questioned about whether he was promoting idol worship.

“May Our Lady of La Vang intercede for our Twitter family,” wrote the Rev. Douglas Vu, pastor of Our Lady of La Vang Catholic Church, in a post on X on Aug. 23.

Our Lady of La Vang is a reference to a reported vision of Mary, mother of Jesus, in his native Vietnam centuries ago.

“She appeared to the Vietnamese Catholics about 400 years ago in Vietnam when the faith was newly introduced to the Vietnamese,” Vu explained. “The new Catholics were persecuted so fled into the jungles for safety – at night – they cried out for help – the Lady appeared to them to comfort them. Hence the name – La Vang – Crying out loud.”

Someone responded to Vu on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Is this not idol worshipping. I thought our Lord Jesus Christ says no one cometh through the father except through me.”

It’s a criticism Vu has heard before, and the former director of communications for the Diocese of Birmingham felt an explanation was in order.

“Do you ever ask family or friends to say a prayer for you when you are sick or have problems?” he responded. “To ask the Mother of Jesus to intercede for us is not idolatry. In the Catholic Church – we believe like all Christians do – salvation through Jesus alone! But we also believe in the communion of saints (those righteous ones who are in the present of God to give God the Father praise right now in heaven). I pray and wish you much of God’s grace and peace.”

He also elaborated on the practice of praying to other saints.

“To whom this may concern: Catholics do not worship the saints!” he wrote. “All Catholics are born again and Jesus is our Lord and Savior. We ‘honor’ His Mother, the saints…. as you and I would honor our own ancestors. We don’t worship our ancestors but we keep their memories alive in our hearts and our lives. Thank you! God bless you all! Peace!”