But I want there to be a counter. I’m Catholic, through and through. It is my lens, it melds my worldview, and even though it is influenced by all the other facets of my identity, it is at my core. But I don’t go to Mass regularly, I don’t have a relationship with my bishop, and I don’t think either of those diminish my Catholicism.
My Catholicism is wrapped up in a deep joy and love of the Catholic imagination, of the deep sanctity of all life and wonder that I learned from being Catholic. I am Catholic not only because I can be no other, but because I find a refreshing depth and life in this tradition. Sometimes despite myself, I am in love with being Catholic.
Is this being Catholic? Can I really call myself Catholic without much more than the occasional acknowledgment of the institution? Who gets to define what Catholic identity is?
I don’t understand how someone can proclaim to have a Catholic worldview, and yet they are not a regular attendant at Mass. Isn’t it at Mass, through the readings, homily, and our unity with Christ and fellow Catholics in the Eucharist, that our “Catholic” worldviews and identities are shaped and formed? And can we really proclaim our worldview to be thoroughly Catholic in this life, or must we wait to really see in a “catholic” sense until our rewards (we pray) in heaven?
Again, how can one see that there is depth and life in a tradition that one doesn’t participate in regularly. Does this make sense to other people? Does the idea of catholicity require us to not merely “nod” our heads at the “institution,” but rather to be active participates in the worship life of the Church, since catholic does mean (καθολικός (katholikos)) “universal” (i.e. embracing all those who follow the Catholic faith). To be Catholic, as in Catholic Church specifically, basically means we are in communion with the bishop of Rome and other Latin/Eastern Rite Churches. It seems to me that being Catholic necessarily requires an ecclesiastic (since “institutional” sounds very pedantic) sensibility, and a recognition of our corporate nature (which is informed by tradition…a tradition tended to, and handed down by, the “Church institutional.”
Some people are in love with the idea of love, much like our author seems to be in love with the idea of being Catholic. That doesn’t mean one is in love. Or Catholic. Is this unfair?
Posted by T. Ambrose Nazianzus 
