Tired of the phrase "Cradle Catholics"

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irishpatrick

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Many people speak of “Cradle Catholics.” The use of that phrase often comes from Protestant to Catholic converts, and the phrase rarely ever comes across well. Frankly, the use of that phrase often sounds condescending and a bit arrogrant with many converts acting as if they are somehow “better” Catholics then those born into the faith.

While it is quite true that many so-called “Cradle Catholics” are weak of faith and have even fallen away to other faiths (and in some cases fallen away to no faith at all); however, it is also true that literally millions of so-called “Cradle Catholics” are the very body of people who have helped keep the Church going so that Protestants and others still have a Church and faith to convert to.

In very large numbers so-called Cradle Catholics have done the following:

– Called for renewal of the Church to regain many lost practices.

– Called for the restoration of things like the Latin Mass and many other holy rituals and practices that have been all but lost.

– Called for a greater participation in the sacraments by all Catholics.

– Spent incalculable hours praying novenas and rosaries for loved ones in Protestant Churches and those outside the faith and even those in the faith. Many Protestants would not even be in the Church had some likely unknown person or group of people prayed for their conversion for years without fail.

– Spent hours in front the blessed sacrament praying for conversions in general and for renewal of the Church.

– Tried to maintain a holy life so that others might be moved by their example…being a strong witness to the faith.

The list can go on-and-on. So-called Cradle Catholics should not be looked down upon, they should be thanked and respected for the faith they have helped live so that there would still be a basic foundation to which non-Catholics can convert.

While a great many Catholics actually present themselves as needing evangelizing, so do Protestants and people of all other faiths. We all know that Jesus promised that the gates of hades would not prevail, yet that does not mean hades won’t try and it does not mean that in certain countries the faith cannot be nearly completely lost (look at much of Europe). Yet, in the United States the faith is nowhere near as bad off as in other countries and part of the reason for that is----Cradle Catholics!

Therefore, people might want to take a more gentle approach towards so-called Cradle Catholics, because Cradle Catholics have been here for a long time and we keep living our faith every day and we keep praying for people we know and love–every single day!
 
Hi Patrick, thanks for your thoughts.

I was born into a Catholic family, baptised as an infant, and raised as Catholic, but I’ve only ever viewed the title “Cradle Catholic” as descriptive, a statement of fact, never as a statement of inferority or inferiority. I’ve never experienced condescention from others regarding this…

Would not many, if not most, have a similar view of this? We are Catholic by gift of God, whether born into the Catholic faith or embracing the fath as converts! It is gift of God and cause for rejoicing, however we come to be Catholics.

God bless, Trishie
 
Trishie said:
Hi Patrick, thanks for your thoughts.

I was born into a Catholic family, baptised as an infant, and raised as Catholic, but I’ve only ever viewed the title “Cradle Catholic” as descriptive, a statement of fact, never as a statement of inferority or inferiority. I’ve never experienced condescention from others regarding this…

Would not many, if not most, have a similar view of this? We are Catholic by gift of God, whether born into the Catholic faith or embracing the fath as converts! It is gift of God and cause for rejoicing, however we come to be Catholics.

God bless, Trishie
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Thank you.

Yes, I agree 100%, being Catholic is a gift no matter when or how one becomes Catholic. That is basically my point…people coming into the faith should simply be grateful, not arrogant.
 
I’m a convert, and have used the phrase before, but I never knew it could be disrespectful to some. Most of the cradle Catholics I know are very proud to be so. I’ve never used the phrase out of disrespect, and often wish I was one as well. It took me 34 years to come home to the Church, and couldn’t be happier. 👍

But, thanks for brining that view up. I never thought it could be disrespectful, but I can see how - especially used in conjunction to reference those who are believed to be considered “poorly catechised”.
 
msugeotech said:
I’m a convert, and have used the phrase before, but I never knew it could be disrespectful to some. Most of the cradle Catholics I know are very proud to be so. I’ve never used the phrase out of disrespect, and often wish I was one as well. It took me 34 years to come home to the Church, and couldn’t be happier. 👍

But, thanks for brining that view up. I never thought it could be disrespectful, but I can see how - especially used in conjunction to reference those who are believed to be considered “poorly catechised”.
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Thank you for your response. I am very happy to know how you feel. 🙂

I feel Cradle Catholics have suffered an awful lot for many years and the last thing they need is to be trashed by members of their own spiritual family.

Thanks again. 🙂
 
Hi - I was welcomed into the Catholic Church last year and my husband is a Tiber Swim Team member of the Class of 2009.

My entire extended family on both sides is Catholic, but my father fell away from his faith after he left the army after WWII. My mother’s father was not Catholic and did not marry in the Catholic church although my mother’s mother and her very large family were Catholic. My cousins are Catholic, and most of my aunts and uncles are Catholic, too. My mother, grandfather, and my brother are not.

I have a twinge of envy toward “Cradle Catholics”. My husband and I both feel that our faith would have been even richer had we been raised Catholic. Sometimes, not often, but occasionally, I feel wistful when I think of all the Masses I missed but might have attended if I had been spent many more years as a faithul Catholic. The idea of the term “Cradle Catholic” as a put-down has never entered my mind. If fact, the only time I use it is following the words :“I wish I had been a . . . . .”
 
irishpatrick said:
Many people speak of “Cradle Catholics.” The use of that phrase often comes from Protestant to Catholic converts, and the phrase rarely ever comes across well. Frankly, the use of that phrase often sounds condescending and a bit arrogrant with many converts acting as if they are somehow “better” Catholics then those born into the faith.
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Really?

I was born into a Catholic family and baptized as a baby. I call myself a cradle Catholic and have never thought of the term as condescending in any way. It’s a shorthand way of saying “I grew up in the faith.”

I work with RCIA so I’m a bit surprised to hear that you know of converts who act “as if they are somehow “better” Catholics than those born into the faith.” The people I encounter are happy to have discovered the Church as adults and, if anything, wish they had known her earlier. They also know that when they are baptized or make their profession of faith, it’s only the beginning; they still have a lot to learn and to adapt to.

I think that people who come to the Church as adults have the advantage of having made a decision to become Catholic. They didn’t simply fall into it. The same is true of people who left the Church and returned, or people who had some kind of conversion experience that led them to embrace their faith more fully.
 
As a convert myself I’ve never taken it to me that. In fact the people I have heard use the term are all “cradle Catholics” who I’m pretty sure weren’t degrading themselves with it.

At the same time though I believe you are correct in that there HAVE to be at least a few converts who think they are better somehow, then again there are always those people everywhere.

I wouldn’t worry about it, my son’s are all cradle Catholics now so 🙂

Joe
 
If a person wants to be condescending they will be able to find any word and make it sound condescending. Cradle Catholic is just a term used to define someone born into the faith. If we there was another term, I would think you would feel the same way about that term. It seems that you have been unfortunate to run into people that may put cradle Catholics on a lower pedestool. I don’t think the word itself is condescending. I am a cradle Catholic and I have never found the term to be demeaning or condescending in any way. That doesn’t mean that other people have used it in that way. And, if it has happened it is unfortunate and we should pray for those that use it that way.
 
SuscipeMeDomine said:
Really?

I was born into a Catholic family and baptized as a baby. I call myself a cradle Catholic and have never thought of the term as condescending in any way. It’s a shorthand way of saying “I grew up in the faith.”

I work with RCIA so I’m a bit surprised to hear that you know of converts who act “as if they are somehow “better” Catholics than those born into the faith.” The people I encounter are happy to have discovered the Church as adults and, if anything, wish they had known her earlier. They also know that when they are baptized or make their profession of faith, it’s only the beginning; they still have a lot to learn and to adapt to.

I think that people who come to the Church as adults have the advantage of having made a decision to become Catholic. They didn’t simply fall into it. The same is true of people who left the Church and returned, or people who had some kind of conversion experience that led them to embrace their faith more fully.
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Thank you for your response.

I do not think that coming into the Church as an adult is any advantage at all. Once a Catholic, no matter when you enter, you hold the same blessings as any other.

Just this morning I was listening to a radio program in which the phrase was used in a negative way. I have heard it many, many times used as a negative. In fact, I have heared many people claim that converts are far stronger then Cradle Catholics, and yes it has been stated exactly that way. Now, that can be held as true for any faith and any Church…we can always find lukewarm people pretty much anywhere, so the fact that “some” Cradle Catholics are lukewarm, does not mean that all Cradle Catholics are lukewam. Further, while I think that converts are a fantastic addition to the Catholic family, it is not always the case that they are, sometimes they bring their old views and practices into the faith. Some Catholics today would rather read studies from converts, then from people that are Cradle Catholics, they seem to think converts have a better grasp of the faith and of the Bible…which is utter nonsense imo. 🙂

The point is, the phrase is indeed used negatively quite often.
 
srferdave said:
If a person wants to be condescending they will be able to find any word and make it sound condescending. Cradle Catholic is just a term used to define someone born into the faith. If we there was another term, I would think you would feel the same way about that term. It seems that you have been unfortunate to run into people that may put cradle Catholics on a lower pedestool. I don’t think the word itself is condescending. I am a cradle Catholic and I have never found the term to be demeaning or condescending in any way. That doesn’t mean that other people have used it in that way. And, if it has happened it is unfortunate and we should pray for those that use it that way.
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I really never said everyone uses the phrase in a negative way. Of course there are many people who use it the way it is meant to be used. 🙂
 
irishpatrick said:
Thank you for your response.

I do not think that coming into the Church as an adult is any advantage at all. Once a Catholic, no matter when you enter, you hold the same blessings as any other.

Just this morning I was listening to a radio program in which the phrase was used in a negative way. I have heard it many, many times used as a negative. In fact, I have heared many people claim that converts are far stronger then Cradle Catholics, and yes it has been stated exactly that way.
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In my experience, this is absolutely not true. In fact, sadly, more than 50% of those who complete an RCIA program and are received into the Church fall away before the end of the first year.

This is, in fact, one of the reasons that Rome is asking the parishes to increase the time of RCIA from one year to two years. so that those who might fall away would do so before they actually enter the Church - and to ensure that by the time someone enters the Church, they have experienced or at least touched on everything that the Liturgical Year has to offer them.
 
Is this assuming the person is not baptized?
jmcrae said:
This is, in fact, one of the reasons that Rome is asking the parishes to increase the time of RCIA from one year to two years. so that those who might fall away would do so before they actually enter the Church - and to ensure that by the time someone enters the Church, they have experienced or at least touched on everything that the Liturgical Year has to offer them.
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jmcrae said:
In my experience, this is absolutely not true. In fact, sadly, more than 50% of those who complete an RCIA program and are received into the Church fall away before the end of the first year.

This is, in fact, one of the reasons that Rome is asking the parishes to increase the time of RCIA from one year to two years. so that those who might fall away would do so before they actually enter the Church - and to ensure that by the time someone enters the Church, they have experienced or at least touched on everything that the Liturgical Year has to offer them.
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Which part, exactly, is not true in your opinion?
 
IrishPatrick, back on post # 10 you said “advantage” when I think you might have meant disadvantage.

Perhaps that is what is causing the confusion.

I too am a Cradle Catholic and have heard it said to me both ways, as you have mentioned. Another thing I have been called is a dyed in the wool Catholic, some people have said it to me in a most awful way, as though I have a disease. It’s alright, they just don’t understand…yet.

So, I’m a dyed in the wool cradle Catholic!!👍
 
allhers said:
IrishPatrick, back on post # 10 you said “advantage” when I think you might have meant disadvantage.

Perhaps that is what is causing the confusion.

I too am a Cradle Catholic and have heard it said to me both ways, as you have mentioned. Another thing I have been called is a dyed in the wool Catholic, some people have said it to me in a most awful way, as though I have a disease. It’s alright, they just don’t understand…yet.

So, I’m a dyed in the wool cradle Catholic!!👍
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Thanks for the response and you make some very good points. I did mean advantage because I believe that all Catholics hold the same advantages…
 
I don’t mind being called a cradle catholic.

I absolutely, very intensely dislike the term “recovering catholic”…Just what is there a need to be “recovering” from???
 
msugeotech said:
Is this assuming the person is not baptized?
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Yes. Ideally, baptized non-Catholics would be assessed to find out what gaps exist in their current level of knowledge, receive Catechesis to fill these gaps, and then be brought into the Church as soon as the arrangements can be made for them to have a sponsor and to complete their First Confession. It is inappropriate for baptized non-Catholics to be required to follow the same process of formation as the unbaptized.
 
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