NiceIsAsNiceDoes said, “But does it really matter? Catholics are Catholic,
right?”
Depends
The people who are not in good standing with the church because they refuse
to follow Church teaching are not in communion with the Church. So in some
ways, they are no longer Catholic (like an atheist). The once Catholic,
always Catholic thing simplys means that we are always will to welcome them
back.
My point is, we would not judge other religions by people who don’t
practice that faith, why do the same with Catholics.
NOTE: I’m not saying that we shouldn’t pool non-practicing Catholics, in
simply saying that they should count as a separate catagory because most of
them only consider themselves Catholic due to cultural reasons and not
religious ones.