The term "recovering Catholic", is used by some former practitioners of the Roman Catholic faith to describe their religious status. The use of the term implies that the person considers their former Catholicism to have been a negative influence on their life: something that must be "recovered" from. The term first came into use in the 1980s by "gay and feminist activists" and "carried no goodwill towards Catholicism". The term is sometimes used with humorous intent, with a conscious parallel being drawn to the 12-step recovery programs

Twelve-step program

A Twelve-Step Program is a set of guiding principles outlining a course of action for recovery from addiction, compulsion, or other behavioral problems...

often used by those recovering from addictions.