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The term lapsed Catholic describes a person raised as a Roman Catholic who no longer practices the religion. Sometimes the person may self-identify as a "recovering Catholic." Many lapsed Catholics become so after leaving their parental home, where they may have gone through the paces of religious services to please a more devout relative, especially a parent. After moving away, they have no inclination to keep going to church. Some Catholics who still attend church services may still think of themselves as "lapsed" if they do not have any real interest in the religion or if they only attend special masses, like Christmas and Easter. These being colloquially called Chreasters, Poinsettia or Easter Lily Catholics, given their tendency to come out during Christmas or Easter.

Though the term "lapsed" may sometimes be affixed to people of other religious backgrounds who have stopped actively practicing (e.g. lapsed Hindus or lapsed Muslims), it is used most commonly in association with Catholicism.

See also

• Catholic guilt