This must be one of the silliest attacks on Catholics.
I have on my wall a photograph of one of my daughters with a gown on after her graduation from University. You could ask why show her with a gown on - she doesn't wear one now.
Another photograph shows her in a wedding dress. You could ask - why do you show her with a wedding dress on. She doesn't have one on now (she doesn't even have it - it was hired)
The answer of course is simple. These photographs are reminders of some important moment in her life.
Similarly Jesus on the cross reminds us of one of the most important things in Jesus' life - what he did for us on the cross.
Paul wrote:
" For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but
we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles" (
1Cor 1:22-24)
"For I decided to know nothing among you except
Jesus Christ and him crucified." (
1Cor 2:2)
"I have been
crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." (
Gal 2:20)
"For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the
cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the
cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (
1Cor 1:17-18)
" For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but
we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles" (
1Cor 1:22-24)
"For I decided to know nothing among you except
Jesus Christ and him crucified." (
1Cor 2:2)
"O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes
Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?" (
Gal 3:1)
"But far be it from me to glory except in the
cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." (
Gal 6:14)
"And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death,
even death on a cross." (
Phil 2:8)
"and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the
cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end." (
Eph 2:16)
"and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven,
making peace by the blood of his cross." (
Col 1:20)
It was through the cross that we were reconciled to God
It was on the cross that God showed the extent of his love for us.
Jesus crucified was very important for Paul and should be for us also. When we see Jesus on the cross it is a reminder of what he suffered for us.