On being a Cafeteria Catholic

"Cafeteria Christianity" according to the definition by Wikipedia is a derogatory term used by some Christians, and others, to accuse other Christian individuals or denominations of selecting which Christian doctrines they will follow, and which they will not. In more complimentary terms I like to think of it as Jesus inviting everyone to come and eat with him regardless of their particular beliefs or disposition. Jesus accepts us to come and eat as we are not as others would have us be.

Michael Coren is a well known British born Canadian Radio & TV personality hosting his own daily talk show on the Global network. Brutally honest, spiritual, strong-minded, author, compassionate, opinionated, ethical, witty, confident, are just a few of the self appointed attributes taken from his own website.

As a writer he is a frequent contributor to Canada’s conservative religious newspaper ‘The Catholic Register’. Michael’s entries consistently display a heavy Catholic apologetic emphasis - often quick to condemn those who fall short of his idea of what it means to be Catholic . This week’s uncompromising essay ‘On ‘Cafeteria Catholicism’ is his latest damning contribution. This article is a typical expression of a fundamentalist understanding of what it means to be a Christian and or a Catholic. You could be forgiven for believing that the two terms are necessarily synonymous. In the case of Mr. Coren the Catholic Church is God and all other churches using the words of Pope Benedict “are not Churches in the proper sense and that non-Christians are seriously deficient in terms of access to the means of salvation.” Catholic or otherwise this supremist attitude is hardly likely to bring reconciliation among the world’s competing religions. More importantly it completely contradicts a God who loves all humankind unconditionally. What follows is his article to the Catholic Register which appeared on line together with my posted response.

On 'cafeteria Catholicism'
Written by Michael Coren Wednesday, 03 November 2010 10:43

In mid-October I was part of a panel at a Toronto university discussing how the world views the Church. It was all pretty good stuff with some faithful and successful Catholic writers on the platform. The academic present, however, was not known to me. But her views were. Not that I had ever heard of the woman before; what I mean is that her opinions on Catholicism were entirely typical of an attitude that has caused colossal damage to the Church in recent years. While discussing abortion, for example, she said that there were “gradations” within Catholicism and implied that supporting the rights of the unborn or promoting their slaughter were various and valid Roman Catholic positions.I asked her if she liked Jews. 

Read the rest here

My Response:

Reading this self righteous and sad article one can clearly hear the mobs gathered once again to witness the fires licking at the bodies of thousands of innocent heretics being burned at the stake. One can hear the instructions from the Inquisitor to ratchet up the ‘strappado’ and other instruments of torture as they try to unmask those wrongly accused of “treason against God”. There is the voice of Pope Innocent VIII condemning those blameless victims who supposedly had ‘blasphemously rejected the Faith’ and were now accused of witchcraft to be drowned or burned at the stake without trial. Again, we can hear the echoes of crowds chanting “Christ-killers” against our Jewish brethren. Hear the miserable shouts from those accusing others of their sins at the expense of their own. Here then is the new Inquisitor ready to condemn anyone who dares to challenge an institution mired in the cover-up of sexual abuse - the institution that wants to return to darker ages rather than embrace the God of the present the God who loves his children unconditionally. A God who invites all to come and eat at his table.

Defending the Church

It seems that every article, or statement these days in defence of the Catholic Church unfortunately only serves to widen the church's credibility gap. Radio and TV talkshow personality Michael Coren's recent contribution http://catholicregister.org/michael-coren/4058 simply adds more fuel to the raging storm. Mr. Coren is so upset, with those who call for greater honesty and change within the church, that he has resorted to label them as 'clowns' and 'assorted exploiters'.

Church Officials and some supporters simply refuse to recognize that the real problem came from WITHIN the Church – not outside or somewhere else. It did not come from a 'messianic clown', not from Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, Catholics' who are dissolutioned with the Church, gays, feminist or people outside the church who hold grudges against the church. The problem has long been identified as being endemic and systemic. And, any repentance that therefore needs to take place must take place WITHIN the Church – not somewhere else!

It would not surprise anyone to discover that the root of the problem may lie with the legacy of St. Augustine and his preoccupation linking sex with sin. Augustine who struggled with lust throughout his life has come under increasing criticism in recent times for his excessive sexual pessimism. Benedict's preferred theology follows that of St. Augustine who linked sex so strictly with procreation that he held as sinful all sexual activity by married couples that was not consciously ordained to procreation. During the middle Ages, as the sexual body became to be seen as evil, the self flagellation of body hatred became the highest form of devotion. To quote James Carroll "The sexual body now became an "occasion of sin" to be subdued". Among Augustine's many teachings such as 'original sin' he believed that people tend toward evil. This theology especially on sexuality continues to influence the Church's position on such matters as celibacy, contraception, abortion, masturbation, premarital sex, and homosexual relations. A healthier approach to sexuality is needed. Perhaps we could begin by reading 'The Song of Songs'.

I can understand the desire by many to take away the shame and guilt from the institution but PLEASE don't let it stand in the way of the healing for the real victims. Coren's remarks about the role of women in the church are not only outdated but condescending. His reference to women who acquiesce to church rules as 'good Catholic women' makes a mockery about Jesus' teaching about equality. We are all equal in the eyes of God; but apparently not so for women in the eyes of the Church, and in many other places in society. The sinful woman at the well is an excellent example of what women are capable of – had she listened to the religious leaders (all men) of her time, including Jesus' own disciples, her town might never have been converted. Mr. Coren's shameful suggestion that women who want to be ordained should look to Protestant churches is typical of those apologists who claim to speak for the church as a whole. This is why Silenced Catholic theologian Carl Rahner could observe "the pluralism of religions . . . must therefore be the greatest scandal and the greatest vexation for Christianity.

It took the Church nearly four hundred years to admit Galileo was right. But similar theological changes will be necessary to bring healing to the sexual abuse crisis. Its hierarchical leadership structure and the theological basis which supports it demands it. This structure is clearly visible when members of the clergy view themselves as elevated above rather than totally integrated with the laity. Jesus taught equality not superiority. Jesus clearly denounced earthly kingdoms during his time in the dessert. The Church seems more interested in protecting a religious kingdom with a power that reaches beyond that of the people and nations it serves. The theology of 'apostolic succession' along with the claim that Jesus came to found a separate church not only denies Jesus' Jewish heritage but also his call to EVERYONE to bring about a worldwide community based on God's kingdom values. As long as the Church sees itself as special and separate from the world it cannot be expected to look inwardly. Hence the required changes will probably not take place unless someone speaks out!. Have you also forgotten that It was only in recent times that Popes apologized for the offences that took place during the Crusades, Inquisition and the scandalous persecution of the Jews. Change in the Church is the dynamic of the Holy Spirit. To resist, and call it 'Church bashing' would contradict your brash claim of being 'brutally honest' and condemn all those Saints who had the courage to call for change in their time,

I e-mailed Mr. Coren accordingly.

Only this morning April 21, 2010 CBC Radio The Current with Anna Maria Tremonti featured the most incriminating article about the Roman Catholic Church to-date. The program was introduced on-line by the CBC as follows:

Bishop's Man - Anna Maria Tremonti talks to Patrick Wall, a former Catholic Priest and Benedictine Monk. For several years, he was what's known as a "Fixer" in the Catholic Church. He was parachuted into parishes where the former Priest had been caught up in a sexual abuse scandal. He eventually quit the church and now he works as a legal consultant for the victims of sexual abuse.

For almost a decade, Patrick Wall played a special role in the Roman Catholic Church. A priest and a Benedictine Monk... he was also what's known as a "Fixer." He would be parachuted into a parish in the aftermath of allegations of sexual abuse. His job was to right the situation. And quickly, he became adept at making scandals go away.

But over time, Patrick Wall became conflicted about the role he was playing. Eventually, his concerns pushed him to leave the Priesthood. Now, Patrick Wall spends his days helping people who have been abused by Church officials. He's a legal consultant and a Canon Lawyer with the U.S. law firm Manly and Steward. He's also the author of Sex, Priests and Secret Codes: The Catholic Church's 2000 - Year Paper Trail of Sexual Abuse. Patrick Wall was in Los Angeles.

I encourage readers to purchase Mr. Wall's book to discover the truth behind the Roman Catholic's greatest scandal.