I am not an expert on the Catholic Church nor do I speak for all evangelicals. Being raised Evangelical, and now finding myself an Anglo-Catholic I felt I must write on this subject. There are a lot of individuals outside of our Theology that view our intercession to the Saints as worship rather than asking someone to pray on our behalf. The Orthodox view the Saint in Heaven as God-like in that we cannot look on God in our sinful flesh. The Church includes all believers who trust in Christ, whether that be on earth, purgatory, or in Heaven! (Orthodox and some AngloCatholics do not believe in purgatory.) So it is not wrong for us to ask Mary, Mother of God, St. Jude, or Saint Patrick to intercede for us. As long as we have bodies and a sinful nature it is harder for us to focus and not be distracted. Where as someone in Heaven can beseech God on our behalf being made holy and in the presence of God! Asking Blessed Mary, or Saint Andrew to pray for us, is no different than asking fellow believers here on earth to pray for you. Your seeking fellow Christians in the body of Christ to pray for you whether it be here on earth or the Church in Heaven! For the Orthodox-Catholic's it's no different than a Fundamental Baptist prayer chain. One other thing to Consider is that St. Paul compares the Church to Christ's bride! There are many writings in the New Testament that compare the Church to a body and believers as being a family. In Orthodox-Catholic understanding Mary, being Blessed and esteemed by God, and considered worthy to bear Jesus the Son of God, is also worthy as being the "Mother" of the Body of Christ. She was Jesus's mom and since we are the Body of Christ to the World today, she play's the same role for us as a Mother interceding for her Son's work to be carried out. I think that many outside Orthodox-Catholic theology view the intercession of Saint's as worship because they do not fully understand how we view the Church militant and in Heaven. If they understood, even if they disagree, maybe they wouldn't accuse us of worship. Some quotes from the Fathers:
" If the Apostles and Martyrs, while still in the body, can pray for others, at a time when they must still be anxious for themselves, how much more after their crowns, victories, and triumphs are won!" St. Jerome
"Then [during the Eucharistic prayer] we make mention also of those who have already fallen asleep: first, the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, that through their prayers and supplications God would receive our petition.." Ephraem of Syria
"By the command of your only-begotten Son we communicate with the memory of your saints . . . by whose prayers and supplications have mercy upon us all, and deliver us for the sake of your holy name (Liturgy of St. Basil"
Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Revelations 5:8
This is well summed up. Also, it was interesting to read a story similar to my own. I was raised evangelical but now find myself in an Anglican church, with a deep appreciation for Anglo-Catholic theology
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