ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Independent Catholic

An independent Catholic is basically someone who believes in Catholic teachings but is not a part of a larger organization or church. It's like if you and a few of your friends believed in the same thing, but you didn't go to the same school or belong to the same club.

Independent Catholics might have different reasons for not belonging to a larger Catholic organization. Maybe they don't agree with some of the things that the larger organization stands for, or maybe they just prefer to worship on their own or with a smaller group of people.

Even though they don't belong to a larger organization, independent Catholics still practice their faith and believe in things like the Bible, the teachings of Jesus, and the idea of God loving and forgiving us. They might have their own ceremonies and rituals, or they might follow the same rituals as traditional Catholics.

In the end, being an independent Catholic is about having a personal relationship with God and following the teachings that bring you peace and comfort.