Catholics are born again. It begins in Baptism which starts the road to sanctification. The next sacrament is reconciliation and it is completed with Confirmation in which we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. Don’t tell me as a Catholic that I’m not born again. It’s just not the protestants’ methods that believe faith is needed but no works.
If you noticed my wording, “religion aside”. If you feel something is wrong an immediate reaction is to defend, but the Word of God needs no defense. Your reaction gives one pause, however only God knows the heart. That very reaction gives need for self examination which I do often