A Cafeteria Catholic is a Catholic who dissents from the doctrinal or moral teachings of the Catholic Church, including those who choose not to receive one or more of the

seven sacraments There are seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, which according to Catholic theology were instituted by Jesus and entrusted to the Church. Sacraments are visible rites seen as signs and efficacious channels of the grace of God to all those ...

(for example thinking confession to a priest is not necessary to have sins forgiven), and not to follow Catholic teachings on sexual morality, abortion,

birth control Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth contr ...

, divorce, premarital sex,

masturbation Masturbation is the sexual stimulation of one's own genitals for sexual arousal or other sexual pleasure, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation may involve hands, fingers, everyday objects, sex toys such as vibrators, or combinatio ...

pornography Pornography (often shortened to porn or porno) is the portrayal of sexual subject matter for the exclusive purpose of sexual arousal. Primarily intended for adults,

prostitution Prostitution is the business or practice of engaging in Sex work, sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, n ...

and homosexual acts.

Use in print

An early use in print of "cafeteria Catholic" appears in 1971: A later use of "cafeteria Catholicism" appears in ''Fidelity'', 1986. A different distinction, in the term "communal Catholicism", had already been used in 1976.

Use of the term

The term is most often used by conservative Catholics critical of progressive Catholics. The term has been in use since the issuance of '' Humanae Vitae'', an official document that propounded the Church's opposition to the use of artificial

and advocates natural family planning. It is often a synonymous phrase for "Catholic-in-name-only" (or ''CINO''), "dissident Catholic", " heretical Catholic", " cultural Catholic"/" cultural Christian", "à la carte Catholic", or "liberal Catholic". The term has no status in official Catholic teachings. However, the practice of denying adherence to the sexual morality of the Church has been criticized by Pope John Paul II stated in his talk to the Bishops in Los Angeles in 1987: During morning Mass at the '' Domus Sanctae Marthae'', Pope Francis, speaking rather of half-hearted Catholics, said, "They may call themselves Catholic, but they have one foot out the door."

Surveys on dissenting Catholic laity

In 2014, the U.S. Spanish-language network Univision commissioned a World Values Survey of 12,038 self-identified Catholics in 12 countries with substantial Catholic populations across the world, representing 61% of the world’s Catholic population and covering nine languages spread across five continents. It found that majorities of Catholics globally and in most regions disagree with Church teachings on divorce, abortion, and contraception, with greater intra- and inter-national division on gay marriage and the ordination of women and divorced men. Favourable views about the Pope (Francis) did not influence Catholics who disagree with at least some of the church's teachings. Overall, a higher proportion of Third World Roman Catholics (notably Africa and the Philippines) accept the official doctrines on these subjects, while those in Western countries tend to disagree with many of them. The founder of World Values Survey, Ronald Inglehart said: Francis has requested that parishes provide answers to an official questionnaire regarding the current opinions among the laity. He has also continued to assert present

Catholic doctrine Catholic doctrine may refer to: * Catholic theology ** Catholic moral theology ** Catholic Mariology *Heresy in the Catholic Church * Catholic social teaching * Catholic liturgy *Catholic Church and homosexuality *Catholic theology of sexuality *Te ...

in less dramatic tone than his more direct predecessors who maintained that the Catholic Church is not a democracy of popular opinion. Francis launched his own survey of Catholic opinion in November 2013. Religion sociologist Linda Woodhead of

Lancaster University Lancaster University (legally The University of Lancaster) is a public university, public research university in Lancaster, Lancashire, Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The university was established in 1964 by royal charter, as one of several pla ...

writes, "it’s not a survey in any sense that a social scientist would recognize." Woodhead feels many ordinary Catholics will have difficulty understanding theological jargon there. Still Woodhead suspects the survey may be influential.

Notable proponents

Some notable Catholics have either been explicitly associated or identified with the term. Politician James Carville, a Democrat, has been described as "the ultimate cafeteria Catholic". Carville said, "Everybody in some way or another takes what they want. The real thing is how we treat each other." Author Mary Karr, a convert from

agnosticism Agnosticism is the view or belief that the existence of God, of the divine or the supernatural is unknown or unknowable. (page 56 in 1967 edition) Another definition provided is the view that "human reason is incapable of providing sufficient ...

, was also reported to have been a dissenter of some Catholic teaching. Having been a

feminist Feminism is a range of socio-political movements and ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes. Feminism incorporates the position that society prioritizes the male po ...

since she was 12, Karr is pro-choice on abortion and she supports the

ordination of women The ordination of women to ministerial or priestly office is an increasingly common practice among some contemporary major religious groups. It remains a controversial issue in certain Christian traditions and most denominations in which "ordina ...

to the priesthood. British actress Patsy Kensit said in an interview with '' The Guardian'' that she is an ''à la carte'' Catholic, though appreciative of "all the pomp and ceremony" of the church.

References

{{reflist, 30em Neologisms Criticism of the Catholic Church 1980s neologisms Catholic culture

Use in print

Use of the term

Surveys on dissenting Catholic laity

Notable proponents

See also

References