what is a Devout Catholic ??

[funkymoped]

i hope you folks will excuse me my ignorance, but i honestly dont know what a "Devout Catholic" is....
its more the word Devout than anything else.
im all of my life ive only heard the word associated with the Catholic faith !

[jno]

it's related to the word devoted and just means very pious, very religious. It does seem to be used only of Catholics (same as 'lapsed') but in theory you can be a devout Buddhist or Muslim. I don't think you can be a devout Protestant, but maybe a devout Baptist or Presbyterian or other individual sect.

[Lil O'lady]

In my experience this phrase is used in selection boards etc to differentiate between candidates applying for jobs. A 'good catholic' or 'devout catholic' may indicate a man who is a Catenian - or a woman who is married to one!

I think also that open shows of devotion were once encourged as measures of holiness - in my primary schoo (a long time ago) progress stars were given out for attending morning mass, going to confession, completing a novena etc.
This led to the Salford 'stations of the cross race' You kinda had to be there.

[jake-the-peg]

This might also be used by someone to distinguish themselves from what you might call "racial Catholics" or "non-practicing Catholics" who were born and raised Catholic but don't practice their religion.

Another term I've heard about is "A la carte Catholics" a slightly tongue-in-cheek term to describe catholics who do not support all of the church's teachings - typically over issues like birth control.

I've only ever heard the latter in the context of Catholicism too

[Teddio]

Lil has made an interesting point. Catholics are forbidden to be Freemasons or members of the Communist party under pain of excommunication and eternal damnation. But who needs Freemasonry? Catholics have the Catenians, a body of devout Catholic professional men; and the Knights of St Columba, a body of equally devout Catholic men.
Membership of either organisation provides a valuable "brownie point" in the strictly meritocratic job interview process.
How many Holy Souls did you release from Purgatory ,Lil?

[Lil O'lady]

Think I'm heading to warmer climes Teddio, sounds more fun - people keep saying 'effing hell' to which the only answer can be, 'hope so'.