A table Catholic is a member of the Catholic faith who ignores or interprets doctrine in disagreement with Catholic moral teaching. The term is a reference to cafeteria-style dining, where people pick and choose the foods they want. Cafeteria Catholics struggle with issues such as birth control, same-sex relationships, and divorce. Critics argue they should find Christian sects that align more closely with their beliefs. Being a cafeteria Catholic does not necessarily make someone a bad Christian.
A table Catholic is a member of the Catholic faith who chooses to ignore some aspect of Catholic doctrine or to interpret established doctrine in a way that disagrees with Catholic moral teaching. The term may also be used to refer to people in other Christian sects, with people substituting the relevant sect name for “Catholic.” As a general rule, people don’t use this term to refer to themselves, because “cafeteria Catholic” is a pejorative phrase meant to imply disapproval.
The term is a reference to cafeteria-style dining, where people pick and choose the foods they want. The implication is that a cafeteria Catholic simply chooses the aspects of Catholic doctrine that appeal most, rather than taking the whole package. Unlike a coffee shop, however, Catholicism isn’t a chosen religion: While people may argue about some aspects of the faith, some things are held to be undeniably true.
Canteen Christianity is obviously an ancient question, as the abundance of Christian sects amply testifies. Drastic differences of opinion have led to repeated divisions in the Christian faith, ranging from the Great Schism to the Reformation, and members of these various sects all believe that their interpretation of Christianity is correct and true. Within a cult, people who pick and choose doctrine are often punished like table Christians.
Many issues come up again and again for cafeteria Catholics, such as the right to choose, the use of birth control, the ordination of women, the sanctioning of same-sex relationships, the approval of marriage for priests, and the acceptance of divorce . Regardless of what cafeteria Catholics think, these issues are all addressed in Catholic doctrine, and failure to adhere to doctrine can make someone a “Catholic in name only (CINO)” in the eyes of doctrinally following Catholics.
Many cafeteria Catholics believe in most aspects of the Catholic faith, struggling with major sticking points like the ones listed above. Some back up their beliefs with quotes from Scripture and Catholic doctrine, despite the fact that Catholic church leaders such as His Holiness the Pope have spoken out clearly on such matters. Critics of Cafeteria Catholics argue that they should find Christian sects that align more closely with their personal beliefs, rather than trying to manipulate Catholicism into adhering to their views.
It should be emphasized that being a cafeteria Catholic does not necessarily make someone a bad Christian. Many cafeteria Catholics are devout, moral people who believe in most Christian doctrine and, with a little research, may be able to find Christian sects that are right for them. If someone is called a Catholic in the cafeteria, they may want to seek advice from a religious leader to discuss their faith.
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