Cafeteria Catholics

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Lol @ “cafeteria”.

I bet no one characterizes themselves that way.
 
I am a ‘developing’ Catholic in my adulthood. There were many pieces of doctrine I did not agree with when I was younger. Through God’s love, my opinions have changed.
 
KendraDZ1902 said:
I just seems like you aren’t very nice about it. You should tell people WITH LOVE. It doesn’t seem like that is the way you go about it. I didn’t say anyone was going to Heaven or Hell. It isn’t my place to guess or to decide. I don’t know what is in those people’s hearts and neither do you. Maybe you should wake up and smell the coffee and realize that there have to be 3 NESSECARY things to make it a mortal sin. If all 3 aren’t there, then that particular person isn’t in a state of mortal sin. You may know very well that it is mortal sin and it is perfectly fine to gently take this person to the side and explain to them why it is a mortal sin, but to just assume that person knows as much as you do is wrong.
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You don’t need a Crystal Ball if the person makes a Public Statement what they say is in the mouth and therefore its in there mind and heart at that time, you don’t have to guess, do you not believe in what people say to you- obviously not- You live in the States I don’t, we have to deal with different types of Catholics, don’t judge everyone by maybe your standard of Catholics in the States, people say what they mean, and mean what they said, to think and say otherwise is to be immature one has to believe what people whether friends or workmates and some Politicians tell you, Why would you want to guess its not your or my decision to call the person a liar because they tell you what they believe, even if its wrong and because your so friendly with the person you know they are clued up about the beliefs of the Catholic Church, but what you don’t get or don’t wish to get , they still announce in a loud voice to all and Sundry where the Catholic Church is going wrong, they should believe in gay marriage, abortion, etc etc, you could say what you like in private to them, they wont listen, and they don’t want to know, and then with a false smile as a throw away expression well I am a Cafeteria Catholic. You don’t know the Culture so you don’t understand the mentality. You just don’t get it. From another part of the world.
 
Can we all agree that there are two types of teachings in our Church? One comprises the dogma…the “truth” as the Magisterium would proclaim.

The other is the currently, Bishop supported, view of all the other items of Tradition and Scripture. We as Catholics are told to develop an informed conscience regarding these issues, and to continue to walk down our own pathway to holiness as this development continues.

One more point…sin, especially Mortal sin, is defined as a fact if one believes it is truly a sin, and then commits it anyway. This is especially true outside dogma teaching. So if dogma does not mandate regular Sunday Mass attendance and a person believes that keeping the Sabbath Holy might involve other activities, then the issue of sin in that regard, is directly related to breaking a rule set by the Magisterium.

Put another way, I recently read in our Archdiocesan weekly paper that, outside dogma, the rest of the teaching, and especially those regarding rubrics of tradition, are the rules of expectation to be part of the Roman Catholic branch of Christianity.

Remember that the Church itself teaches that there are “elements of salvation” in most all of the Protestant sects that believe in the Trinity, Baptism for the forgiveness of sins with water in name of Trinity, and of course Jesus as savior. By inference then, salivation is obtainable without adhering to each and every one of the rules or teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Our Magisterium has stated that other Christian religions do meet the criteria for salvation. It’s the whole topic of “in full communion” with the Church that is at stake here…not Salvation per sea.

Which brings me back to the topic of Cafeteria Catholic. We should be very, very careful in defining the difference between dogma and all other teaching when we use that term

I can see how many posting here will now dive into my comments and tear them apart in their enthusiasm to defend an “all in or all out” engagement with our Church. Fair enough, but if anyone of us is 100% willing to stand in front of our Lord at judgement day regarding our views or actions…then only judgement day will truly be our final discernment…yes

Peace
bruce
 
Celtic_Maiden said:
You don’t need a Crystal Ball if the person makes a Public Statement what they say is in the mouth and therefore its in there mind and heart at that time, you don’t have to guess, do you not believe in what people say to you- obviously not- You live in the States I don’t, we have to deal with different types of Catholics, don’t judge everyone by maybe your standard of Catholics in the States, people say what they mean, and mean what they said, to think and say otherwise is to be immature one has to believe what people whether friends or workmates and some Politicians tell you, Why would you want to guess its not your or my decision to call the person a liar because they tell you what they believe, even if its wrong and because your so friendly with the person you know they are clued up about the beliefs of the Catholic Church, but what you don’t get or don’t wish to get , they still announce in a loud voice to all and Sundry where the Catholic Church is going wrong, they should believe in gay marriage, abortion, etc etc, you could say what you like in private to them, they wont listen, and they don’t want to know, and then with a false smile as a throw away expression well I am a Cafeteria Catholic. You don’t know the Culture so you don’t understand the mentality. You just don’t get it. From another part of the world.
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You aren’t suppose to judge people no matter where they are from. Be it from my country or from yours. I don’t think you get it. 🤷
 
KendraDZ1902 said:
You aren’t suppose to judege people no matter where they are from. Be it from my country or from yours. I don’t think you get it. 🤷
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Exactly my thoughts. Also, blind, “innocent” Faith can be both a blessing and a curse. It often leaves no opportunity to form an informed conscience.
 
Incomplete said:
As a former fig tree, thank you for this. If I had been excommunicated before realizing just what the Church is, I would probably still not know, and probably would have left the Church altogether. It’s only through the grace of God I finally understood. Had I left, my daughter (passionately Catholic) would likely have gone wherever I went…and had she left, her formerly agnostic friend would not have been received into the Church in 2011, and her formerly atheist and anti-Catholic friend would not be starting RCIA this year.

While it is important to correct the public figures who are Cafeteria Catholics, and important to stay strong on things like the nuns on the bus, that has to do with how public they are and how they can lead others wrongly. I think the average Cafeteria Catholic should be prayed for and, if you can, reasoned with. Let God do the cutting and separating.
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👍👍👍 yup, former fig tree here. But for the Grace of God…
 
KendraDZ1902 said:
You aren’t suppose to judge people no matter where they are from. Be it from my country or from yours. I don’t think you get it. 🤷
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Try this scripture on for size my friend. BTW this is only one example of many.

1 Corinthians Chap 5 vs 9-13.

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with immoral men; not at all meaning the immoral of this world, or the greedy and robbers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of this world. But rather i wrote to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of immorality or greed or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard , or robber—not even to eat with such a one… For what have i to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church who you are to judge? God judges those outside. Drive out the wicked person from among you.
 
Qoheleth said:
Try this scripture on for size my friend. BTW this is only one example of many.

1 Corinthians Chap 5 vs 9-13.

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with immoral men; not at all meaning the immoral of this world, or the greedy and robbers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of this world. But rather i wrote to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of immorality or greed or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard , or robber—not even to eat with such a one… For what have i to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church who you are to judge? God judges those outside. Drive out the wicked person from among you.
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If we literally drove out sinners, there wouldn’t be people sitting in the pews on Sunday or standing in line for confession.
 
Celtic_Maiden said:
Some things are not for picking and choosing , that is what is called a Cafeteria Catholic,
one might deny doctrines of Faith, one might not go to Sunday Mass, but might attend various Catholic meetings, might agree with abortion, contraception, porn, sex outside of marriage, etc, etc, never go to Confession either, but when asked they say Catholic and even more rude a Cafeteria Catholic which has been said to me, I told them what I thought of the Cafeteria.
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Oh, someone falls into sin: ie doesn’t go to mass on some Sundays, eventually becomes desensitized to their sin, a nit unusual progression. At what point in that progression are they to be excommunicated? How many of us, at some point in our life, would be excommunicated? Absurd idea
 
To avoid rash judgment, everyone should be careful to interpret insofar as possible his neighbor’s thoughts, words, and deeds in a favorable way: “Every good Christian ought to be more ready to give a favorable interpretation to another’s statement than to condemn it. But if he cannot do so, let him ask how the other understands it. And if the latter understands it badly, let the former correct him with love. If that does not suffice, let the Christian try all suitable ways to bring the other to a correct interpretation so that he may be saved.” CCC2478

I don’t they when it says, “try all suitable ways,” that it means to be uncharitable or ugly about it. 👍
 
They should probably just leave the faith, A lot of them are either apathetic about it or have major flaws with doctrine. They would be better suited in a Protestant church because doctrine can be very easily changed with a popular vote
 
I must disagree with this post. It is not right for you too decide who is and who is not a good Catholic. I am a Celibate Virgin who attends Mass daily. I say my Rosary twice a day and do my best to be a good person and help others. I plan on entering a Monastery within the next several years to devote my life to God. I also believe in Marriage Equality for all. Is that a reason to have me excommunicated? I don’t think so. You should spend more time thinking about how you can devote yourself to God and loving all of his creation instead of judging others.
 
KendraDZ1902 said:
If we literally drove out sinners, there wouldn’t be people sitting in the pews on Sunday or standing in line for confession.
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Uhmm I doubt that verse is applicable to anyone that is inline to the confessional.

We need to have a little bit of common sense. It is obvious that we all are sinners, Paul is referring to someone who gives scandal to the brethren AND is unrepentant.

One rotten apple will make the whole barrel of apples go bad if it is not removed.
It is a fact of life.

Yes we have to be charitable, pray for the conversion, try to change the hearts and minds of those that have ideas which are contrary to the Dogmas of the Church, however it seems that we also need to put some order in our house too. We can not allow openly defiant attitudes to fester for the reason stated above.
One soul that is lost because the bad example set by someone is enough of a reason to do it.

Also I would surmise that cafeteria Catholics would apply to persons that do not accept the DOGMAS of the Church.
If you do not believe in Guadalupe, Lourdes or Fatima that is not Dogma.

Missing Mass on Sunday which is the day of the Lord and which the Church gives the possibility to fulfill at the Saturday vespers mass IS a sin.
It is breaking the 1st Commandment. If I am a Catholic and say “I don’t believe that” :eek: I would say “Houston we have a problem”
Also taking a human innocent life is murder.
Abortion IS that.
So any thing that has as it’s core fundamental the 10 Commandments, WE CANNOT say “I don’t believe that” AND claim to be Catholics.
 
KendraDZ1902 said:
If we literally drove out sinners, there wouldn’t be people sitting in the pews on Sunday or standing in line for confession.
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The only solution would be to cast out a billion and a half Catholics, and we might have a million churches we can turn into coffee houses for all the cafeterias.

Us hypocrites, when we point one finger at someone, we must look at the other three fingers on our hand, they point straight back at us.
 
Eric_Hyom said:
Us hypocrites, when we point one finger at someone, we must look at the other three fingers on our hand, they point straight back at us.
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👍

I really like this. It reminds me of what my grandparents would say all the time to us kids, when we would point fingers at one another, and tattle, or exploit weaknesses.

These kinds of threads always harbour some hidden anger, or insecurity. I feel that when people post these kinds of things, they don’t really care for an answer, they are just looking for explosive reactions and drama. Someone might be watching too much TNT.
 
JerryZ said:
Missing Mass on Sunday which is the day of the Lord and which the Church gives the possibility to fulfill at the Saturday vespers mass IS a sin.
It is breaking the 1st Commandment. If I am a Catholic and say “I don’t believe that” :eek: I would say “Houston we have a problem”
Also taking a human innocent life is murder.
Abortion IS that.
So any thing that has as it’s core fundamental the 10 Commandments, WE CANNOT say “I don’t believe that” AND claim to be Catholics.
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If they aren’t taught properly, they still may not know or realize. It is best to understand and explain instead of jumping the gun.
 
Rather ironic that the criteria set forth by those who wish to use excommunication as a punishment/warning to others in regards to “Cafeteria” Catholics would also led to them being excommunicated as well.

-Ignorance of what excommunication actually is and how it is applied
-Presumption that they, not our shepherds, have the authority/right to not only determine who belongs or does not belong in the Church, but that they also have the authority/right to demand our shepherds to act upon their personal opinions (all of which is a form of disobedience)
-Hypocrisy (or is anyone really going to argue that they understand and have never violated Church teachings?)
 
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