Catholics are a large group of Christians who adhere to the teachings of the Catholic Church. It’s the largest Christian church in the world, with over 1.3 billion members, making it the largest religious denomination in the world. But there are many different types of Catholic churches in the world. They are usually contrasted in terms of their liturgical tradition. The differences in the liturgy are the basis for the wide range of Catholic beliefs.
The Catholic Church also has different types of Catholics. The main differences between them are that there are more conservative types of Catholics, which follow the Catholic Church more closely than other types, and there are types of Catholics, which are more accepting of other religions than other types. There are Catholic types with Catholic beliefs, Catholic types with Catholic ideas, Catholic types with Catholic lifestyles, and catholic types that are not really part of the Catholic Church.
Types of Catholics in Terms of Practicing Their Faith
When you think of a Catholic, what do you picture? The first thing that comes to mind for most people is heavy, black attire and a head covering. This is completely understandable given that this is what most churches and parishes look like (especially during mass). However, not all people who practice the religion wear clothes and cover their heads.
Let’s take a look at the following different types of Catholics in terms of practicing their catholic faith:
- Nominal Catholic – Nominal Catholics are the commonly seen Catholics in western society. They go to church on Sundays but may not deep-dive into the faith. Some of them don’t even believe in the dogma of the Virgin Mary, so they may be called non-practicing Catholics. Some nominal Catholics have been dubbed “little Catholics” because they go to church once a year on Easter, for instance.
- Cafeteria Catholic – The cafeteria catholic is defined as a person who attends one parish but who does not practice the teachings of the Catholic Church. For example, a cafeteria catholic might attend mass at a parish but may not believe in the teachings of the church.
- Practicing Catholic – Practicing Catholics are people who care deeply about the Catholic faith and what our faith teaches. They strive to live their faith and positively influence their families, their communities, and the world. To be a practicing Catholic is to love and serve God and neighbor to the best of our ability.
We all know that everyone, or maybe some, has adhered to the Catholic church’s teachings. However, from the types stated above, do you know what type of catholic you are in terms of practicing the Catholic faith?
Conclusion
Catholics generally follow the same religious practices and beliefs, but there are no set rules or commandments. This is because, as a religion, Catholicism is not a one-size-fits-all type of faith. Rather, it is a faith that is meant to be adapted and used as a way of life.
