It's the same everywhere.
Do you REALLY think any of us PROTESTants learned all this stuff in CHURCH?!
We learned it on our OWN (with a little help from a Counselor)
I agree with you on that. Anyone who is serious about his faith does his own reading, of the Bible and learned authors. Anyone who is serious about his faith prays on his own and in a community. Anyone who is serious about his faith lives it in his daily actions and continues to try to grow spiritually.
Many Catholics, and other Christians, do not put that kind of effort into growing a mature relationship with Christ. As a Catholic, I wish my parish leaders would help cradle Catholics make the transition from babies in the faith to adults in the faith. The sacrament of Confirmation as a teen helps, but there is so much depth, richness and beauty to Catholicism that it takes real study to mine it. Many Catholics stay babies in their faith.
However, it’s a misconception that Catholics don’t read the Bible. Many of us do. Catholics hear the Scripture, at minimum, every Sunday at Mass. It is a mini-Bible study because readings from the Old Testament, psalms, New Testament, and Gospels are read together to facilitate meditation on a theme. The priest then gives a talk on the readings. The prayers we recite all contain Scripture, as well.
Now add in the fact that the entire sacrifice of the Mass is Scriptural. Every Mass is a Bible study, if you know how to look for it. All Catholics are also encouraged to attend additional Bible studies at their parish, and to read the Bible on their own. How many make that effort? I don’t know. I only know that a good Catholic would. A serious Catholic would. My “study Bible” is as marked up as any Protestant’s.