| This writer of “Cafeteria Catholic, the article” | | | | In full Horn & Hardart Automat any of a chain of |
| has a Protestant friend who picks and chooses from | | | | cafeterias in New York City and Philadelphia, where |
| her salad what she likes: More tomatoes, maybe | | | | low-priced prepared food and beverages were |
| extra radishes, but not so much green lettuce. At 77 | | | | obtained, especially from coin-operated |
| she has a license, one would think. For another | | | | compartments. |
| example, she isn’t Methodist, but attends the | | | | |
| Methodist Church where she can help feed the | | | | This isn’t to imply Cafeteria Catholics are |
| homeless every month. She is a woman of charity, a | | | | organized. They are not. And they are not out of |
| good Christian, and God knows she knows her Bible | | | | fashion or business. |
| liking to attend Baptist and Evangelical Church Bible | | | | In an email correspondence with an informed blogger |
| studies. She also goes with a friend to both Roman | | | | on the subject, this comment helped start the ball |
| Catholic Bible Study and Roman Catholic services, | | | | rolling. And let me remind you, this is a serious |
| where she gets a blessing--not wine and wafer, and | | | | subject for my Toronto based blogging acquaintance, |
| complains strongly of being denied Communion. A | | | | and this writer agrees. But let’s indulge ourselves |
| blessing is not enough for her, and that is | | | | in some pie. The “Malt Monk”, as he is called |
| understandable. I consider her a kind of Cafeteria | | | | and who is a cradle Roman Catholic of 50 years: |
| Protestant. | | | | If you are Catholic, you must accept the entire |
| Yet usually, the real Cafeteria picker and chooser of | | | | Truth; not just the parts that appeal to you. We |
| religion are called a Cafeteria Catholic. In an effort to | | | | must also accept some of the blame for current |
| find out more, here is a short article on the Cafeteria | | | | problems.. because the Church is and will be made up |
| Catholic by a non-Roman Catholic. Consider this | | | | of sinners. |
| writer’s observation and research. Consider it | | | | I understand and agree with the Magisterium and |
| amusing as well as telling, for after all, a sense of | | | | Authority of The Catholic Church that comes from |
| humor helps when presenting a serious subject. (May | | | | Jesus and is passed through His Disciples (Apostles |
| these words be palitable.) | | | | Bishops/Priests) through time. |
| | | | | I mean, where do people think the bible came from... |
| In an effort to get to the bottom of the matter, this | | | | it didn’t drop from the sky… it came from the |
| reporter contacted the offices of two well known | | | | appointed followers of Jesus.. The Royal Priesthood |
| Cafeteria Catholics, Maria Shriver and Nancy Pelosi. | | | | and lineage of our faith. |
| There was no reply at the time of posting this article. | | | | The Church doesn’t make new rules to be |
| (Maria Shriver is wife of the Governor of California, | | | | fashionable with ‘modernism’. |
| and Nancy Pelosi is the Congresswoman from San | | | | Our good sport, and informed blogger's blog is here: . |
| Francisco.) | | | | Here is a quote from his blog that does what |
| These were their questions, the same ones to be | | | | Britannica fails to do. Malt Monk defines Cafeteria |
| posed to each: | | | | Catholic: |
| • Do you lead a Eucharistic life, and if so how so? | | | | This is an expression that applies to those calling |
| • Are you a regular Sunday Church goer? If | | | | themselves ‘Catholic’ that want to pick and |
| unable to go Sunday, do you go Saturday evening? | | | | choose whatever they like about the faith and |
| • Is it all right to be a Cafeteria Catholic, as you | | | | decide the breadth and width of each topic. |
| have self defined your particular inclination of practice | | | | |
| regarding certain Roman Catholic Church doctrine? | | | | In recent news; some of the chosen people |
| • Have you enjoyed Church? | | | | (celebrities) are publically calling themselves |
| • Can you tell us where you worship? | | | | ‘cafeteria catholics’ and wearing this as a |
| • What is central in your religious life as a | | | | badge of honour. Comments like ‘I consider |
| worshiper? | | | | myself a Catholic in good standing; but I disagree |
| • Will you tell us what a Cafeteria Catholic may | | | | with a lot of the teachings of the Church’... or |
| be? | | | | ‘I don’t believe’... And then they |
| • What did you have for lunch this week? | | | | proceed to spew their narrow minded canned jargon |
| Here is a definition of cafeteria: “…self-service | | | | that is emitted by most of these uninformed sheep. |
| restaurant in which customers select various dishes | | | | They stand in their cafeteria line and take similar |
| from an open-counter display. The food is usually | | | | servings from what is processed and served up by |
| placed on a tray, paid for at a cashier's station, and | | | | the media-celebrity chefs. Or they simply take it upon |
| carried to a dining table by the customer.” This | | | | themselves to decree their opinions. |
| from the 2006 Encyclopedia Britannica computer | | | | So Malt Monk defines our term. |
| loaded reference program. Everyone knows | | | | |
| Britannica is authoritative, whereas Wikipedia is by | | | | |
| someone out there in internet land—lots of | | | | This reporter meditated on the subject while at |
| whomever-someones. | | | | Church, and by coincidence these words from the |
| As for Cafeteria Catholic, there was no reference to | | | | hymn, “All Who Hunger Gather Gladly” |
| it. There is reference to: Catholic Recoveries of | | | | resonated as a more serious lesson for religious |
| Protestant Territories (from Protestantism). Also | | | | people of various denominations: “Taste and see |
| under Cafeteria Catholics is listed Automats: | | | | the grace eternal /Taste and see that God is good. |