I'm a cafeteria Catholic. I believe in what's outlined in the Apostles' Creed:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
I pray on occasion, but I don't go to church. To quote Homer Simpson, I'm a good man, I care about my [family] - why do I have to go to church and be told I'm going to hell?. Often by people who can't speak English very well.
I'm not fond of he church as a middleman. I want my own relationship with God. Take reconciliation for example. Everyone sins because we are human. If I pray and ask God for forgiveness for whatever, then that's his call. I don't know why I have to tell some old guy in a basement first.
Beyond that and the sacraments, I think that's about all I stick too. I have almost no idea of all the other little rules and stuff in the catechism. My outlook is just live a good life and hope for the best when you die.
I think Catholicism gets picked on a lot. There's been some bad stuff in the past, but it was in the past, the Church has apologized for it, and it doesn't really affect anyone now. The Church and its followers do a lot of charity work for people of all creeds and lack thereof. People say Catholicism is really traditional. I think in ritual maybe. But what the Church says you can believe changes (which bugs the really traditionalists). We're fine with the Big Bang and evolution. Recently the Vatican visited the LHC and said "The Church never fears the truth of science, because we are convinced that all truth comes from God. Science will help our faith to purify itself."
Whatever happened in the past, was the past. It may be a slow change, but there is a change in the church. I see "catholic groups" (specific local churches, grass roots organizations, etc.) doing more harm than the actual Vatican.
That said though, their are some things I think the Church has to modernize on. Might not be happen right away, but eventually I think the Church will move on a few things (priests not getting married, no female priests, contraception, etc.)
Ignorance isn't good. Stagnancy isn't good. Intolerance isn't good. There is a disconnected, I think, between some vocal Catholics and the actual Church. Jesus' message was to love your neighbour. Some people lose track of that.