Catholicism as a political identity, not a spiritual one 

“Skeptics acknowledge it’s impossible to divine others’ true motivations, and even cynical conversions could prove transformative. God works in mysterious ways. But what’s driving the Catholic groups eagerly welcoming celebrity converts seems less opaque. “It’s like the vice presidential nominee,” said Lewis. “They’re from this swing state or represent this demographic the candidate doesn’t already have. It speaks to a much larger goal.”

And in service of that goal, sincerity, or even actual belief, doesn’t matter much.”

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/catholic-right-celebrity-conversion-industrial-complex

Catholicism hasn’t been about belief since 380.

I would respectfully disagree with that statement.  Catholicism has always been and continues to be centered around core religious beliefs