Response to "It's Time Roman Catholics Asked Some Serious Questions - The Missing Commandment

I was shown this website by a friend of mine and as I responded to the questions as follows.

WHY has the Roman Catholic church removed the second commandment, which deals with idolatry, from the Ten Commandments in its catechisms?

The Catholic Church has used the version of the 10 Commandments found in Deut 5 as opposed to Exodus 20. It would be wise for us to remember that the Catholic Church was reading and studying the Scriptures long before there were chapters and verses inserted into the text for the simplicity of reference.

What should be noted is at the time of the reformation Luther used the "Catholic" 10 commandments version. It wasn't until Calvin that the practice of listed the commandments differently was used to attack the Catholic practice of having statues to remind them of Holy things.

The question which should be posed by the author is not whether or not there is a missing commandment, but whether or not the Catholic Church actually teaches that it is acceptable to make idols for ourselves or to worship anything other than God alone.

In this regard, the church does not teach either of those two things. Nor does God, for if it is unacceptable to make statues or any graven images, then why does God have written in His Holy Scripture:

Ex 25:18-19 - God commands to make two cherubim of beaten gold.
Num 21:8-9 - Moses makes a bronze serpent and put on pole
1 Kgs 6:23-29 - temple had engraved cherubim, trees, and flowers
1 Kgs 7:25-45 - temple had bronze oxen, lions, pomegranates.

Catholics who have statues or other Holy reminders do not worship those Holy reminders themselves. They are only used to help Catholics keep their minds and hearts on God alone.

When I was in the Army and was stationed overseas, I had pictures of my family. I didn't believe that the pictures were substitutes for my family, but they helped me to focus my mind on those at home whom I missed and loved. A statue of Mary or Jesus isn't worshiped in place of God, but is used in prayer to help us to focus ourselves on God and of Heaven. Now many people who do disagree with this practice of kneeling before statues or images of Heavenly things also kneel beside their beds before they say morning or evening prayer. Does this mean that they are worshiping their bed? Surely not, and nor do Catholic when they use statues or icons to assist in their prayer.