Standard boilerplate answer number......
Simply a variation on the theme of *That's not what the Catholic church REALLY teaches.*
On the contrary, I was raised Catholic in a very large extended Catholic family on both sides and grew up in a heavily Catholic area. You'd be hard pressed to find a Catholic who would deny himself his beer or cigs, or anything else for that matter, without direct divine intervention demanding it so. If they can justify holding on to those, they will not deny themselves the more basic necessities of life.
And, yes, these are (were, in some cases) faithful, observant, practicing Catholics.
All one has to do is look at NO and see that that is not out of the ordinary for those who call themselves Catholic.
In virtually every aspect of Catholicism, there is a chasm the size of the Grand Canyon between what FReepers put forth that Catholicism is (really "should be" or what they'd like it to be) and what the reality of what Catholicism in practice is.
The fairy tale version of Catholicism FRoman Catholics put forth does NOT mesh with reality. It can only exist in their minds as it does not exist in reality in the physical world.
People can convince themselves of anything.
Anything.
We've got God's holy word that clearly and resolutely tells us that "there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man, Christ Jesus."
And knowing that verse, Roman Catholics can STILL say, with a straight face, "Mary and the saints are mediators between God and men."
Jesus was clear about this kind of delusion. He didn't say people are confused or ignorant or leaning one way or another. Jesus said people are blind to the truth because the truth is not in them.
No doubt there are Roman Catholics who love Jesus Christ alone and thus are saved. But they are saved in spite of Rome, not because of Rome.
The fairy tale version of Catholicism FRoman Catholics put forth does NOT mesh with reality. It can only exist in their minds as it does not exist in reality in the physical world.
Are some Catholics hypocrites? Sure. Were the Catholics in your circle hypocrites? You say they were. But if I were you (thanks be to God I am not) I wouldn't judge anyone else for what you see or don't see of their Lenten observances. As an adult convert, I was taught to make a meaningful Lenten sacrifice and keep it between myself and God for the most part.
Considering your outspoken criticism of all things Catholic, I do not imagine any serious person would voluntarily share something so personal with you, just so they could be fodder for ridicule.
You are not describing the Catholics I know, either.
It is not a standard boilerplate answer.
That’s pretty cheeky.
I know what my experience is as surely as you claim to know what your experience is.
It’s a fallacy to lump all Catholics into a generic potpourri of drinkers and smokers —or “anything else” .
Your presentation of the Catholic milieu as an accurate composite of all that is Catholic is neither just nor accurate.
There’s probably nothing more ho-hum and looked askance-upon than the personal, anecdotal report from someone like me; frankly, it’s taken for just what you have described as “standard boilerplate”.
If that is Christian witness, I wouldn’t be drawn to any “preaching” from its source. I wasn’t then, and I’m not now.
Not only do I know my parish well, but I am often interacting with the other 4 parishes in our deanery here in the valley. I know what the parishioners are like, I know what the parishes are doing, I know what their focus is; I have mentioned all of this in other posts which no doubt you haven’t read, but even if I were to post them again now, I realize that all I would say would be considered “standard boilerplate”.
Your view of Catholics at this particular time does not fit what is actually happened.
You may not believe that, but that isn’t my problem.
There is a certain point when the repetitive accusations against Catholicism, and by association those who are practicing Catholics with their “boilerplate” mindset, becomes overkill.
The LEAST I am able to say is that your portrait of Catholics is one-dimensional.