Cradle Catholics vs Converts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These posts feel so unwelcoming to converts

I’m guessing that’s how culture works. You feel left out because you didnt get have the shared experience.

The thread wasn’t about debating religion it’s about funny crazy sh!t we all went through as cradle Catholics vs converts.

I think maybe it was specific to previous generations of cradle Catholics. I am a convert who commented above and my kids are in Catholic school and will be cradle Catholics but I am not seeing any of those superstitions taught in school, and I am certainly not teaching them, so I guess they won't be cradle enough for those tik toc video producers.

Going to Catholic school and being baptized as a baby doesn’t really make you a cradle catholic…. I mean by the strict definition I guess it would. It’s like people who are generations and generation generations of Catholics and you have aunts and uncles and cousins and everybody’s Catholic and it’s a cultural thing.

Stop gatekeeping. I know you’ll say you’re not, but you obviously think converts are not “real Catholics.”

You can’t gate keep an experience.

It’s not something you can give or take.

It does point out on this thread like it does on the other threads, the lack of humor, some people have.

What a weak bailout. “It’s just a joke guys. Chill out.”

Here’s a hint my super Catholic ethnic abuela taught me: if other people aren’t laughing, then you are the problem, not their sense of humor.

This is what my Nonna taught me if everybody’s laughing but you then you are a little too serious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jesus would have wanted converts to be embraced.

Except Jesus disliked people who are hypocritical, self-righteous, and legalistic which are all attributes which would describe many converts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The demarcation throws the conversation off.

There are absolutely cradle Catholics who are deep in Bible study (Bible in a Year was a smashing success in Catholic circles), know the catechism well, and generally try to actively live out their faith/the sacraments.

There are also cradle Catholics who are (a) poorly formed in the faith; (b) not particularly active in the faith; or (c) do not identify with it as a faith but rather as a cultural identity. There are other types, too.

On (a) I once had someone in total shock tell me they had never heard of HDOs and they had been educated by Jesuits for 13 years (you don’t say!) and clearly I was making it up.

On (b) a poster up thread mentioned not being particularly active in the Church.

On (c) there is the poster who mentioned Jewish and Catholic interfaith marriages working well; which sort of fits the bill (both ways).

These are all individuals captured by “cradle Catholic” along with everyone else. Just too broad of a term.

Given that converts are more likely to be conservative (not always), and that the swath of cradle Catholics is just way too broad to categorize, I don’t think these comparisons are helpful.

I do think that converts can be caught by surprise by just how big the tent of Catholicism is and the many ways people practice within that tent.

I also think converts can struggle with the mysticism within Catholicism. One of my closest friends is a convert (but his wife is cradle). We’ve taken our families on multiple pilgrimages together to places like Mexico City and Rome and he is still learning to embrace the mysticism. We’re planning on going to Fatima next year and that will be another interesting case.

Nobody said that cradle Catholics don’t read the Bible. They said they don’t go to Bible study.

Also, nobody said that cradle Catholics are all the same what was said is that they have some themes and shared experiences that are the same that make them feel connected to each other.

They could have 80% of their experiences be different but the 20% that is the same that other people don’t experience is what they were bonding over.

I’d be really surprised if a cradle cat was getting all wrapped up in the mysticism of anything. I haven’t been to Fatima yet but most my family has and it’s just like oh wow that was cool. There’s no spiritual awakening or anything.

This is an example of the poor formation category of cradle Catholics. Perhaps the mysticism is not for you. Perhaps it does not speak to you. But the idea that you would be “really surprised if a cradle [Catholic] was getting all wrapped up in the mysticism of anything” reveals a shallow contact with the faithful and a disengagement from the faith. I’m frankly shocked any Catholic who is engaged with the Church would say such a thing. I mean, what do you believe you are receiving in the communion line?

I do think there is a tendency for low engagement/poorly formed cradle Catholics in America to assume that their low engagement/poor formation is the universal experience of Catholics. First, there are literally hundreds of millions of Catholics outside of the USA who embrace the mysticism of Catholicism, especially outside of Europe.

There are also millions of Catholics in the USA who do as well. I know a very highly educated family who is moving their children to a different Catholic school because they sincerely believe the patron saint of the school has cared for their family over the years. There are literally Catholics who in this country wake up every single morning and go to Mass with religious orders that guard and treasure Catholic mysticism.

I was deeply moved by my own pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe and observe her feast day every year. I also sequester myself on the Feast of the Holy Innocents because I mourn them. And All Souls Day is a feast day we stringently observe in our family.

My 12 year old son still laments over a Cross of the Good Shepherd touched by Pope Francis that he lost a year ago.

Many of the commonalities cradle Catholics experience are cultural in nature. Not necessarily spiritual or driven by the faith.

I am a revert cradle Catholic. My dad rejected the faith (put in the envelope then bee line to Dennys the times we did have to go to Mass) and my mother was Methodist. My paternal grandmother poured so much faith into us, rosary, Blessed Mother, Go to Joseph, holy days of obligation, but it was all yea yea yea whatever old lady. Then Covid, churches shutting, witnessing others’ faith through that, a surprise unwanted pregnancy that I feared … brought me back to the Catholic faith. It’s at the center of my life now in a way that would’ve been “so cringe” a few years ago. I have convert friends, trad friends, cradle friends. We are moving states soon bc I want my kids to marinate in a stronger Catholic culture.

What state are you leaving and what state are you moving to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The demarcation throws the conversation off.

There are absolutely cradle Catholics who are deep in Bible study (Bible in a Year was a smashing success in Catholic circles), know the catechism well, and generally try to actively live out their faith/the sacraments.

There are also cradle Catholics who are (a) poorly formed in the faith; (b) not particularly active in the faith; or (c) do not identify with it as a faith but rather as a cultural identity. There are other types, too.

On (a) I once had someone in total shock tell me they had never heard of HDOs and they had been educated by Jesuits for 13 years (you don’t say!) and clearly I was making it up.

On (b) a poster up thread mentioned not being particularly active in the Church.

On (c) there is the poster who mentioned Jewish and Catholic interfaith marriages working well; which sort of fits the bill (both ways).

These are all individuals captured by “cradle Catholic” along with everyone else. Just too broad of a term.

Given that converts are more likely to be conservative (not always), and that the swath of cradle Catholics is just way too broad to categorize, I don’t think these comparisons are helpful.

I do think that converts can be caught by surprise by just how big the tent of Catholicism is and the many ways people practice within that tent.

I also think converts can struggle with the mysticism within Catholicism. One of my closest friends is a convert (but his wife is cradle). We’ve taken our families on multiple pilgrimages together to places like Mexico City and Rome and he is still learning to embrace the mysticism. We’re planning on going to Fatima next year and that will be another interesting case.

Nobody said that cradle Catholics don’t read the Bible. They said they don’t go to Bible study.

Also, nobody said that cradle Catholics are all the same what was said is that they have some themes and shared experiences that are the same that make them feel connected to each other.

They could have 80% of their experiences be different but the 20% that is the same that other people don’t experience is what they were bonding over.

I’d be really surprised if a cradle cat was getting all wrapped up in the mysticism of anything. I haven’t been to Fatima yet but most my family has and it’s just like oh wow that was cool. There’s no spiritual awakening or anything.

This is an example of the poor formation category of cradle Catholics. Perhaps the mysticism is not for you. Perhaps it does not speak to you. But the idea that you would be “really surprised if a cradle [Catholic] was getting all wrapped up in the mysticism of anything” reveals a shallow contact with the faithful and a disengagement from the faith. I’m frankly shocked any Catholic who is engaged with the Church would say such a thing. I mean, what do you believe you are receiving in the communion line?

I do think there is a tendency for low engagement/poorly formed cradle Catholics in America to assume that their low engagement/poor formation is the universal experience of Catholics. First, there are literally hundreds of millions of Catholics outside of the USA who embrace the mysticism of Catholicism, especially outside of Europe.

There are also millions of Catholics in the USA who do as well. I know a very highly educated family who is moving their children to a different Catholic school because they sincerely believe the patron saint of the school has cared for their family over the years. There are literally Catholics who in this country wake up every single morning and go to Mass with religious orders that guard and treasure Catholic mysticism.

I was deeply moved by my own pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe and observe her feast day every year. I also sequester myself on the Feast of the Holy Innocents because I mourn them. And All Souls Day is a feast day we stringently observe in our family.

My 12 year old son still laments over a Cross of the Good Shepherd touched by Pope Francis that he lost a year ago.

Many of the commonalities cradle Catholics experience are cultural in nature. Not necessarily spiritual or driven by the faith.

I am a revert cradle Catholic. My dad rejected the faith (put in the envelope then bee line to Dennys the times we did have to go to Mass) and my mother was Methodist. My paternal grandmother poured so much faith into us, rosary, Blessed Mother, Go to Joseph, holy days of obligation, but it was all yea yea yea whatever old lady. Then Covid, churches shutting, witnessing others’ faith through that, a surprise unwanted pregnancy that I feared … brought me back to the Catholic faith. It’s at the center of my life now in a way that would’ve been “so cringe” a few years ago. I have convert friends, trad friends, cradle friends. We are moving states soon bc I want my kids to marinate in a stronger Catholic culture.

I think that is awesome and your paternal grandmother is proud! The other poster said your kids may leave the faith. While that technically is true, my spouse and I view it as our job to do everything we can so the faith has the best chance possible to take hold in our children. But, ultimately, Catholicism believes in free will and it will be up to each of our children to make faithful choices or not. All we can do is pray for them and educate them. The rest is up to them and responding to the call of the faith.

If you are relatively recently returning to your faith, pilgrimages are a great way to reconnect. Even if you start with baby steps. For example, we recently found ourselves driving through Oklahoma City and we stopped and spent a half day at the Blessed Stanley Rother shrine. For my kids, about 2/3 of them have really connected with pilgrimages while the rest have been more of the “that’s cool, can we go?” reaction. And that’s okay. As long as they are respectful, we respect as parents they everyone’s journey will be different.

Thank you for this, kindly stranger! I have a special love for St Monica understanding the road for my children may be rocky. "Lord, make ne holy... but not yet"

Thank you for the pilgrimage advice

[Anonymous]

As a cradle Catholic who read all of the thought provoking posts...quick synopsis of reactions:

1. I don't really understand why anyone, of any religion, would "change their religion." If I was born and raised with a family of a different faith other than Catholic, I would not choose Catholic. Being Catholic is a real thorn in my side, at times. And I no longer practice.

2. Out of family obligation I went to Church for Christmas. Sign of peace, which has been my favorite part, was somehow shortened. In my youthful memories, it was a joyous time where the priest also hit and shook hands. It had been ruined

3. Everything about it really irked me. No sermon on the critical thinking skills to tease out what we are hearing.

4. Ive been thinking some of the more nebulous and mystical elements are due to aliens somehow taking human form

5. Catholics hate on Protestants for not being intellectual enough when basically they just love Jesus and want to share it with others. That's mean.

6. There is a great deal of snobbery and showing off among Catholic.

7. The poster who said, how would you feel if your adult child either outright disavowed or declined to practice the faith? Really why would any parent feel any sort of agenda to even feel somehow betrayed by the fact and adult child is pursuing and/or not actively pursuing a spiritual life? Catholics should know if the foundation was planted there is always the potential for either a return to church, and for goodness sakes, any kind and decent person, theirs or others, to go to heaven.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a cradle Catholic who read all of the thought provoking posts...quick synopsis of reactions:

1. I don't really understand why anyone, of any religion, would "change their religion." If I was born and raised with a family of a different faith other than Catholic, I would not choose Catholic. Being Catholic is a real thorn in my side, at times. And I no longer practice.

2. Out of family obligation I went to Church for Christmas. Sign of peace, which has been my favorite part, was somehow shortened. In my youthful memories, it was a joyous time where the priest also hit and shook hands. It had been ruined

3. Everything about it really irked me. No sermon on the critical thinking skills to tease out what we are hearing.

4. Ive been thinking some of the more nebulous and mystical elements are due to aliens somehow taking human form

5. Catholics hate on Protestants for not being intellectual enough when basically they just love Jesus and want to share it with others. That's mean.

6. There is a great deal of snobbery and showing off among Catholic.

7. The poster who said, how would you feel if your adult child either outright disavowed or declined to practice the faith? Really why would any parent feel any sort of agenda to even feel somehow betrayed by the fact and adult child is pursuing and/or not actively pursuing a spiritual life? Catholics should know if the foundation was planted there is always the potential for either a return to church, and for goodness sakes, any kind and decent person, theirs or others, to go to heaven.

But according to the Catholic faith, you can only go to heaven if you are free from mortal sin. You can get that way from not sinning or from having last rites from a Catholic priest right before you die. Just hope that your errant adult child dies in a hospital where a priest is handy and you're all set.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a cradle Catholic who read all of the thought provoking posts...quick synopsis of reactions:

1. I don't really understand why anyone, of any religion, would "change their religion." If I was born and raised with a family of a different faith other than Catholic, I would not choose Catholic. Being Catholic is a real thorn in my side, at times. And I no longer practice.

2. Out of family obligation I went to Church for Christmas. Sign of peace, which has been my favorite part, was somehow shortened. In my youthful memories, it was a joyous time where the priest also hit and shook hands. It had been ruined

3. Everything about it really irked me. No sermon on the critical thinking skills to tease out what we are hearing.

4. Ive been thinking some of the more nebulous and mystical elements are due to aliens somehow taking human form

5. Catholics hate on Protestants for not being intellectual enough when basically they just love Jesus and want to share it with others. That's mean.

6. There is a great deal of snobbery and showing off among Catholic.

7. The poster who said, how would you feel if your adult child either outright disavowed or declined to practice the faith? Really why would any parent feel any sort of agenda to even feel somehow betrayed by the fact and adult child is pursuing and/or not actively pursuing a spiritual life? Catholics should know if the foundation was planted there is always the potential for either a return to church, and for goodness sakes, any kind and decent person, theirs or others, to go to heaven.

But according to the Catholic faith, you can only go to heaven if you are free from mortal sin. You can get that way from not sinning or from having last rites from a Catholic priest right before you die. Just hope that your errant adult child dies in a hospital where a priest is handy and you're all set.

You have to be baptized, you receive first communion and communion every Sunday of your life and every holy day of obligation and you have to do penance and you have to fast and abstain on proper days and you have to make confirmation and you have to get married in the church and you have to raise your kids Catholic and…… You have to get last rites.

To Name a few

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These posts feel so unwelcoming to converts

I’m guessing that’s how culture works. You feel left out because you didnt get have the shared experience.

The thread wasn’t about debating religion it’s about funny crazy sh!t we all went through as cradle Catholics vs converts.

I think maybe it was specific to previous generations of cradle Catholics. I am a convert who commented above and my kids are in Catholic school and will be cradle Catholics but I am not seeing any of those superstitions taught in school, and I am certainly not teaching them, so I guess they won't be cradle enough for those tik toc video producers.

Going to Catholic school and being baptized as a baby doesn’t really make you a cradle catholic…. I mean by the strict definition I guess it would. It’s like people who are generations and generation generations of Catholics and you have aunts and uncles and cousins and everybody’s Catholic and it’s a cultural thing.

Stop gatekeeping. I know you’ll say you’re not, but you obviously think converts are not “real Catholics.”

What is ironic is that many converts don't think people like OP are real Catholics. Wearing medals and having superstitious grandmas does not a Catholic make. Converts call you guys cafeteria Catholics. So I guess we should all just stop. God is laughing at us.

Who cares what converts call us?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These posts feel so unwelcoming to converts

I’m guessing that’s how culture works. You feel left out because you didnt get have the shared experience.

The thread wasn’t about debating religion it’s about funny crazy sh!t we all went through as cradle Catholics vs converts.

I think maybe it was specific to previous generations of cradle Catholics. I am a convert who commented above and my kids are in Catholic school and will be cradle Catholics but I am not seeing any of those superstitions taught in school, and I am certainly not teaching them, so I guess they won't be cradle enough for those tik toc video producers.

Going to Catholic school and being baptized as a baby doesn’t really make you a cradle catholic…. I mean by the strict definition I guess it would. It’s like people who are generations and generation generations of Catholics and you have aunts and uncles and cousins and everybody’s Catholic and it’s a cultural thing.

Stop gatekeeping. I know you’ll say you’re not, but you obviously think converts are not “real Catholics.”

What is ironic is that many converts don't think people like OP are real Catholics. Wearing medals and having superstitious grandmas does not a Catholic make. Converts call you guys cafeteria Catholics. So I guess we should all just stop. God is laughing at us.

Who cares what converts call us?

In addition, the person posting doesn’t know the difference between a cradle Catholic and a cafeteria Catholic

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These posts feel so unwelcoming to converts

I’m guessing that’s how culture works. You feel left out because you didnt get have the shared experience.

The thread wasn’t about debating religion it’s about funny crazy sh!t we all went through as cradle Catholics vs converts.

I think maybe it was specific to previous generations of cradle Catholics. I am a convert who commented above and my kids are in Catholic school and will be cradle Catholics but I am not seeing any of those superstitions taught in school, and I am certainly not teaching them, so I guess they won't be cradle enough for those tik toc video producers.

Going to Catholic school and being baptized as a baby doesn’t really make you a cradle catholic…. I mean by the strict definition I guess it would. It’s like people who are generations and generation generations of Catholics and you have aunts and uncles and cousins and everybody’s Catholic and it’s a cultural thing.

Stop gatekeeping. I know you’ll say you’re not, but you obviously think converts are not “real Catholics.”

What is ironic is that many converts don't think people like OP are real Catholics. Wearing medals and having superstitious grandmas does not a Catholic make. Converts call you guys cafeteria Catholics. So I guess we should all just stop. God is laughing at us.

Who cares what converts call us?

+1. I'm a happy cradle, cafeteria Catholic. I don't care what they think. Am

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s a lot of discussion online about the difference between cradle Catholics and converts and the difference in just being seeped in the culture of being catholic and converting and trying to learn from a book.

Anybody else following this?

Many explain it much better than I can. As a multigenerational cradle Catholics I feel like it’s finally being explained in a way I never could.

I could see many returning to being more active if we could just connect with more cradle Catholics.

can you provide some links? I have not noticed any discussion, though it does interest me. I am a convert and generally find that I have a lot of trouble connecting with cradle Catholics. I don't know any of the cultural stuff they know, and they generally lack much real knowledge of theology.

The "cultural" stuff is usually just that - cultural, not religious. It comes from having an Italian, Irish, Polish, Hispanic or German family. It doesn't actually come from Catholicism.

Agree mostly. There are things that are culturally Catholic but most are things are distinctly <insert ethnicity or nationality> based. Waiting in Sr Peters Square during a conclave is Catholic thing if you’re in Rome at the time. Non-Catholics are interested too but Catholics get more hyped about it. Praying for the intercession of the saints ans the Blessed Virgin Mary are Catholic culture. How different Holy Days are celebrated in the community or at home, those are more by ethnicity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a cradle Catholic who read all of the thought provoking posts...quick synopsis of reactions:

1. I don't really understand why anyone, of any religion, would "change their religion." If I was born and raised with a family of a different faith other than Catholic, I would not choose Catholic. Being Catholic is a real thorn in my side, at times. And I no longer practice.

Interesting. I'm a convert, but I was born and baptized a Protestant. However, I never connected with it. I think it was the lack of tradition. I always thought the Catholics did the rituals right. I don't recall anything unique about Protestant church. Not true of Catholicism though! I loved the Sign of the Cross, the candles, Hail Mary, the Rosary, the Holy Water, incense. All of it. As a kid, I wish I could be Catholic. I used to endure Protestant services (I really disliked the long sermons), but love going to Mass.

My kids may feel differently though. We'll see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a cradle Catholic who read all of the thought provoking posts...quick synopsis of reactions:

1. I don't really understand why anyone, of any religion, would "change their religion." If I was born and raised with a family of a different faith other than Catholic, I would not choose Catholic. Being Catholic is a real thorn in my side, at times. And I no longer practice.

2. Out of family obligation I went to Church for Christmas. Sign of peace, which has been my favorite part, was somehow shortened. In my youthful memories, it was a joyous time where the priest also hit and shook hands. It had been ruined

3. Everything about it really irked me. No sermon on the critical thinking skills to tease out what we are hearing.

4. Ive been thinking some of the more nebulous and mystical elements are due to aliens somehow taking human form

5. Catholics hate on Protestants for not being intellectual enough when basically they just love Jesus and want to share it with others. That's mean.

6. There is a great deal of snobbery and showing off among Catholic.

7. The poster who said, how would you feel if your adult child either outright disavowed or declined to practice the faith? Really why would any parent feel any sort of agenda to even feel somehow betrayed by the fact and adult child is pursuing and/or not actively pursuing a spiritual life? Catholics should know if the foundation was planted there is always the potential for either a return to church, and for goodness sakes, any kind and decent person, theirs or others, to go to heaven.

But according to the Catholic faith, you can only go to heaven if you are free from mortal sin. You can get that way from not sinning or from having last rites from a Catholic priest right before you die. Just hope that your errant adult child dies in a hospital where a priest is handy and you're all set.

You have to be baptized, you receive first communion and communion every Sunday of your life and every holy day of obligation and you have to do penance and you have to fast and abstain on proper days and you have to make confirmation and you have to get married in the church and you have to raise your kids Catholic and…… You have to get last rites.

To Name a few

Actually the vast majority of these things, while beneficial, are not necessary for salvation according to Catholic teaching.

[Anonymous]

One thing I think born Catholics do that others do not is use the term "devout Catholic" very judiciously. It does not mean simply being a practicing Catholic, as I have heard non-Catholics use it.

The term refers to someone who is especially prayerful and devoted to the worship of God and has attained a quality of holiness in the eyes of others. The orthodox have a lovely term for this (female only)--a myrrh-bearing woman. No one born Catholic (who speaks English as their first language) would refer to themselves as a devout Catholic. It is a term they reserve to describe a select few, never to include themselves as they would not deem themselves worthy of such an appellation.

I have noticed non-Catholic converts to Catholicism use the term to describe themselves when they mean practicing Catholic. JD Vance has done this. I am sure they don't realize how misuse of this term grates upon the ears of the born Catholics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s a lot of discussion online about the difference between cradle Catholics and converts and the difference in just being seeped in the culture of being catholic and converting and trying to learn from a book.

Anybody else following this?

Many explain it much better than I can. As a multigenerational cradle Catholics I feel like it’s finally being explained in a way I never could.

I could see many returning to being more active if we could just connect with more cradle Catholics.

can you provide some links? I have not noticed any discussion, though it does interest me. I am a convert and generally find that I have a lot of trouble connecting with cradle Catholics. I don't know any of the cultural stuff they know, and they generally lack much real knowledge of theology.

If you go to Instagram or TikTok and just search on cradle Catholic, you’ll get a bunch of posts.

Many of the posts are tongue in cheek because that sort of how cradle Catholics talk about religion. It’s literally like being Italian like you can’t explain what it’s like to be Italian. You just are Italian.

Cradle Catholics are from soup to nuts. Every little bit of our life is catholic..

My grandmother would say, Jesus, Mary and Joseph every time something happened. Every time I scrape my knee, they would say offered up as a sacrifice to God. These are just teeny tiny examples of how Catholicism permeated my life.

They also talk about converts really know the “Bible”, but they don’t know Catholicism, which would be the study of the catechism or Cannon Law or understanding Humanea vitae or what happened in Vatican 2 or each iteration of the translation of the Bible like the 1946 translation of the Bible would be something that a cradle Catholic would know but maybe a convert wouldn’t know

They talk about how converts study the Bible, which is something Catholics do not specifically do. We don’t really do Bible study.

Converts often don’t really understand Saints or the role of Mary in the church because they come from religions where they have a personal relationship with God. Or they come from a religion where all you have to do is believe Jesus is your Lord and your savior to be saved and Catholics really have to go through a maze of rules and life choices to get to heaven.

In my experience, converts know more than cradle catholics because they actually study the religion as adults.

In my experience, converts are familiar with the law, but don't understand the spirit at all.

This. Much rule citing, in my experience. With eye-rolling from the cradle Catholics.

This describes my MAGA, Catholic convert (formerly Lutheran) parents perfectly.