are you a good catholic?

I am a Catholic. When I was growing up, I always go to church every Sunday. But when I was in College, I stopped being a church goer. But I don't think not being a church goer makes me a bad Catholic. As long as I do not do anything that would bring harm in any way to another, and I follow the Ten Commandments, I am a good Catholic. God is omnipresent and I could talk to Him every where and not just in Church.

Hm. Well, I believe that a good Catholic first follows the teachings of Christ, then the teachings of the Church and its official doctrine--then doing the best you can according to your abilities. If you obstinately deny a truth revealed by God (like the divinity of Christ, and such other major issues), you are classified as a heretic; if you refuse to follow the teachings of the Church, you're a schismatic. I really don't want to be either of those. I have struggled in the past over some of the teachings of the Church, but instead of denying their truth, I have accepted their truth and also accepted that if I don't believe, it's because of my own flawed understanding and faith. In this way, we really do need an aspect of blindness and true faith--after we give ourselves over to it, it teaches us, and truth is revealed within us and we understand, thus now we see. So blind faith never really remains blind, but develops into better sight than we had before. I believe you can become a good Catholic without studying the Bible on your own time (after all, it is presented to you regularly at Mass), but to really excel and grow in God I think you ought to study it (and so does the Church). Many Catholics interpret the Bible differently either because they don't want to check what the Church's teaching is, or they've been misled by their parish, or they don't care, because they believe that their own heart will tell them more effectively than scholars who have devoted their life to its interpretation and practice. In my experience, the teachings of the Church have only enriched, clarified, and bettered my opinions that existed before I learned them. Schismatic churches are a real problem lately, especially in Minnesota, USA where I live. It's a heavily Lutheran state, and despite the mild social conflict between Catholics and Lutherans, a lot of Catholics and Catholic churches act like they're Lutheran instead. (Note: Lutherans don't bother me at all; Catholics who act un-Catholic but still say they are Catholic DO bother me.) By this I mean the parishioners feel that it's all right to deny the teachings of the church, to break with Rome, to deny established authority, and to have people preach on issues directly in opposition to the Church's position. It's a pet peeve of mine. If you're going to be Catholic, be actually Catholic. Thankfully the Archbishop is taking measures to relieve and replace the priests and pastors who misled these people. And yes, they did mislead them. A lot of people who are Catholic In Name Only are that way because they've been misled by the people preaching to them. It's really sad, and it's not their fault.

nope, i am not a good catholic but as far as i know i am a good person. i am more spiritual than religious. i may not regularly go to mass nor know most of the scriptures of the good book but pure human sense would dictate as to how i should conduct my life accordingly well. Most good catholics are imprisoned in a conclave of doctrines and stuff, following a lot of religious rituals and affairs that are more task oriented than spiritual, most of them good catholics put down and discriminate other people who does not believe in what they believe. that is very wrong. it is more advisable to be a better catholic rather than be a good catholic.