First of all, CATHOLICS ARE CHRISTIAN. Who came up with the idea we are not? We don't worship Mary or any other saints. We do ask for their intercession as described by by St. Paul 1 Timothy 2:1-4. People in Heaven hear our prayers, Rev 5:8
Yes, we have images. Do we worship these images? No, of course not. They are visual reminders, that's all. To take communion is extremely serious in the Catholic Church and is not treated lightly as other churches do. We require that you understand what you are doing and why. As for being encouraged not to read the bible, that is false. My priest almost every Sunday encourages personal study time in the scriptures. As for no Bible in the Catholic Mass, that is false. We have 1 reading from the Old Testament and 1 from the New Testament and 1 from the Gospels. Where do ya'll come up with this stuff? We read out of the Bible at every single Mass. The Priest develops his sermon from these readings. If you go to mass every day, in three years you get the entire bible including the books the protestants took out. Can your church say that?
Yes, Mary is an important figure, but why wouldn't she be? She is only the Mother of the Son of God! Luke 1:48 "....from now on ALL generations will call me blessed." Sounds like the Catholic Church is the only one paying attention to this scripture. It really saddens me that people who have no idea about the Church condemn it and those of us who are members.