Catholic theology
Catholic belief holds that the church exists both on earth and in heaven simultaneously, and thus the Virgin Mary and the saints are alive and part of the living church. Prayers and devotions to Mary and the saints are common practices in Catholic life. These devotions are not worship, since only God is worshiped. The church teaches that the saints "do not cease to intercede with the Father for us. ... So by their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped."
Roman Catholic (term)
However, by 1900, U.S. Catholics numbered 12 million, with a predominantly Irish clergy. Accordingly, they had an arguably more influential voice than the recusants in the United Kingdom, and objected to what they considered the "reproachful" terms "Popish" and "Romish", preferring the term "Roman Catholic" rather than the former when presented with the two alternatives.