It actually is probably not quite as uncommon as you would think (I know many in my own parish who are far more knowledgeable than I and they aren't FReepers in any regard).
But in the main I would, unfortunately agree with you. As I said in #25, above,
I would doubt that there would be a Catholic on FR who would disagree with you. The level of catechesis both through CCD and in Catholic schools is appalling.The trouble is that this is the second, and, in some cases, the third generation who never have been educated in their own faith. And so parents have a hard time taking on their responsibilities as the primary educators of their children because they don't know either.
But let me ask you, though...is it really that much different in your typical Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, or Baptist congregation, though? Yes, I know that there are scholars in all of them and, absolutely, I would imagine that the level of understanding of doctrinal issues is far higher with FReepers than non-FReepers. But is Joe sit-in-the-pew-on-Sunday ___fill in the blank___ all THAT much different?
In my home town, my Lutheran parish was known for turning out kids who would know the catechism backwards and forwards (literally, before confirmation we had to stand before the congregation and answer each of Luther's small catechism questions). My current church is similar.
But that isn't the norm anymore. Most parents don't want to drill their kids on mountains of memory work. I hated it, but when my father in law died I was able to give the priest verses to look up off the top of my head. My wife loves to joke that I am the product of MoLu Bible education at its finest!
Which brings me to another point. Most Catholics, including priests and bishops, don't know the Bible that well. It was rather shocking to me that my inlaws priest didn't know some of the old stand bys for Psalms in the time of death. Not to mention what verses to read for the death of a farmer. My old Lutheran pastor could do that in his sleep, and so could most of my classmates.
Now I hear that is changing, but it is still shocking to me.