What is the difference between a Cafeteria Catholic and an Excommunicated Catholic?

[TEPO]

What is the difference between a Cafeteria Catholic and an Excommunicated Catholic?

 

[TEPO]

Isn’t it true that a Cafeteria catholic believes that his conscience overrules Church teaching and will still go up for communion…?

While an excommunicated Catholic being in err, drops his faith altogether…?

So what about the Catholic who believes church teaching is correct, yet willingly falls short of living up to the churches Holy standards… Out of respect and gratitude towards God and the Churches teachings, the Catholic attends mass on sundays, but refrains from the sacraments, knowing that he must face hell.

Could one call this third (rare) type of Catholic a “Dead Catholic”…?

 

[YoungTradCath]

What is the difference between a Cafeteria Catholic and an Excommunicated Catholic?

A cafeteria Catholic is a “Catholic” (with or without quotes, perhaps) who picks and chooses what to believe in among the things that we are required to believe in. For example, a woman (or man, for that matter) who believes abortion is okay, or a man who believes that Jesus was only a man worth “living up to” but not also true God.

An excommunicated Catholic is a Catholic who has committed a certain offense against the Code of Canon Law and who, upon being excommunicated, may not receive the sacraments (except to go to confession to have the excommunication absolved) and who has generally done something bad enough to stir the pot. Excommunications can be either laetae setentiae (automatic, just from committing the act) or ferendae setentiae (a sentence received after an ecclesiastical court gives you a trial and convicts you). I suppose it is also conceivable for the Pope himself to excommunicate someone for a reason not in the Code of Canon Law. Well yes, I think that’s certainly doable.

Isn’t it true that a Cafeteria catholic believes that his conscience overrules Church teaching and will still go up for communion…?

While an excommunicated Catholic knows that he is in err, so drops his faith altogether…?

So what about the Catholic who believes church teaching is correct, yet willingly falls short of living up to the churches Holy standards… Out of respect and gratitude towards God and the Churches teachings, the Catholic attends mass on sundays, but refrains from the sacraments, knowing that he must face hell.

Could one call this third (rare) type of Catholic a “Dead Catholic”…?

Conscience never overrules Church teaching, ever.

Excommunication is just as much of a request for the excommunicated person to come back into the fold of the Church as it is a punishment.

As to that third case, well, we all are that type of Catholic occasionally.

 

[TEPO]

The reason I ask is because I’ve recently contemplated using condoms (weve never used ABC before), after my wife gives birth, because her stress levels are high, and her body is weak. We just had back to back pregnancies, and NFP is too risky.

Out of respect for her, and for God -I may for a time use a method of birth control, knowing that if I die, I will go to hell. This is what I believe.

I don’t want to consider myself as self-excommunicated, yet I believe the teachings, so I’m obviously not protestant or cafeteria…

I’m going to consider myself a dead catholic. I’ll go to Church, but refrain from the Sacraments. I will continue to love God and have faith in the Church, and all her teachings, all the while knowing that I must face death.

So, I’m definantly not excommunicating myself via laetae setentiae-right…?

 

[Credo_in_Deum]

What is the difference between a Cafeteria Catholic and an Excommunicated Catholic?

One is a wolf who has declared it to the Church and is no longer invited to The Lambs Supper while the other is a wolf that continues to hide in sheep’s clothing and continues to feast on the Lamb of God even though they shouldn’t.

 

[TEPO]

Thanks for your answers.

Good day.

 

[Havard]

With respect to excommunication laetae setentiae and “cafeteria” mindsets, it seems there’s potential for a LOT of mixing between the two, however canon law seems to afford a lot of exceptions based upon state of mind, etc…

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

What is the difference between a Cafeteria Catholic and an Excommunicated Catholic?

The former hasn’t yet been caught.

Actually there is quite a difference. In the case of excommunication, the Church acts.

 

[Jeanne_S]

One is a wolf who has declared it to the Church and is no longer invited to The Lambs Supper while the other is a wolf that continues to hide in sheep’s clothing and continues to feast on the Lamb of God even though they shouldn’t.

Well said:thumbsup:

 

[opus101]

One is a wolf who has declared it to the Church and is no longer invited to The Lambs Supper while the other is a wolf that continues to hide in sheep’s clothing and continues to feast on the Lamb of God even though they shouldn’t.