Catholic Education

A significant portion of what the Catholic Church conveys is misunderstood by a secular culture that fails to grasp the overall religious perspective or by other religious groups that disagree with numerous aspects of our doctrines and traditions.
If you are Catholic, then you have likely encountered some of those inaccuracies intended to instill doubt in your beliefs, at best, or drive you away from your faith, at worst.
Today we are going to dispel the misconceptions. We will examine the most prevalent inaccuracies that are circulated by individuals who do not truly comprehend what the Catholic Church conveys and the reasons behind it.
Mary DeTurris Poust writes from New York. 
Buying annulments
Myth: If you have enough money and know the right people, you can buy an annulment.
Reality: No matter where you live or who you know, you still have to apply for — and wait for — an annulment if you want the Church to declare a marriage “null,” meaning that something prevented it from being the sacramental covenant God intended it to be.
All dioceses charge a fee for the annulment process, although no one is prevented from petitioning for an annulment due to the inability to pay. Fees and schedules may vary according to geography, caseload, staffing. It is a process that requires a lot of paperwork, judges, advocates, hearings and more. Even the slightest glitch — like an ex-spouse unwilling to cooperate — can turn a simple procedure into a lengthy ordeal. Annulments are not for sale, are not guaranteed, and are not as prying or as painful as the rumor mill purports them to be.
Cross vs. crucifix
Myth: Wearing or exhibiting a crucifix is seen as idolatry and indicates that Catholics prefer to concentrate solely on Jesus on the cross rather than on his resurrection.
Reality: Indeed, Catholics favor a crucifix instead of an unadorned cross, but not for the reasons that many evangelical Protestants and others assume. Catholics perceive triumph in the cross. It was through Jesus’ agony that our salvation was achieved. Why would we wish to ignore the reality of his suffering? The resurrection cannot exist without the crucifixion; the two are permanently intertwined. For Catholics, the crucifix is not an object to worship or something to regard with dread. It serves as a poignant reminder that our God sacrificed himself for our sins and then rose from the dead, thereby opening the gates of heaven. Catholics understand that Jesus has risen, a truth we commemorate at every Mass; however, the pain of the crucifixion must never be relegated to a mere footnote beside the splendor of the Resurrection.
Indulgences
Myth : Catholics can buy forgiveness, or buy their way out of hell, with indulgences.
Reality: Indulgences have a terrible reputation in non-Catholic circles and, sadly, even in some Catholic circles due to abuses back in the days of Martin Luther when almsgiving and the granting of indulgences were tied together. But here’s the truth about indulgences: they cannot get you out of hell once you are there. They can only reduce the “temporal punishment” due to you for the sins you committed. In other words, an indulgence, which you can receive through reconciliation or particular prayers or actions, can get you the equivalent of time served in purgatory. And, if you offer particular prayers or actions on behalf of someone else, you can reduce their punishment as well. Still, only the Sacrament of Reconciliation can save you from eternal punishment. Indulgences just chip away at the just rewards you will receive in the next life for the sins you committed in this one. 
Mary worship
Myth: Catholics revere Mary when they ought to honor God exclusively.
Reality: Catholics do not venerate Mary. We respect Mary, but we do not idolize her. Worship and reverence are designated for God exclusively.
Nevertheless, Mary undoubtedly occupies a vital role in the existence of a Catholic.
Mary, by her consent, became a partner in God’s scheme for redemption. She was selected to bear Jesus Christ and accepted despite her anxieties and uncertainties. She brought forth and raised, educated and cherished God’s unique son. Her offspring is entirely human and entirely divine, rendering her the Mother of God.
Protestants and non-Christians frequently misunderstand Catholic reverence for Mary. They argue that the Bible does not direct Christians to venerate Mary in this manner, and they object to our characterization of Mary as the Mother of God.
Let us revisit the moment of the Visitation in the opening chapter of Luke’s Gospel, where we can examine both points of view: “Upon hearing Mary’s greeting, the baby stirred in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, exclaimed loudly and said: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how can this be, that the mother of my Lord should visit me?’” (Lk 1:41-43)