Steve, anybody here under the age of about 65 was terribly catechized...and many people that age or older have completely forgotten the faith because you never heard orthodox teaching in you parish church after about 1968.
Don’t blame yourself. There’s a whole goldmine of richness and splendor out there - because that’s what Catholic teaching is, not just laws, but glorious things about the love of God, eternal life, happiness here, etc. I will try to send you a little reading list of old things I think you might like.
Thanks, livius, but remember I'm no polyglot!