Revisiting the Notion of Being a Cafeteria Catholic

Somewhere in my growing up years, I heard that pejorative term "Cafeteria Catholic" which refers to one who picks and chooses one's doctrinal beliefs and practices from the sacred smorgasbord found within that centuries old dining establishment, the Deposit of Faith. The idea, supported by those hard-core members who dined there, was to eat what was set before you...all of it! You'd better not question, comment upon nor complain about what the cooks put out that day either. The expectation too was that you'd better clean your plate because there were starving people in other denominations and religions who didn't have the privilege of tucking in for such a beneficial time of gestational fortification. 

This topic came up last night during the panel discussion that followed the showing of the movie, "Building A Bridge" featuring the ministry of Fr. James Martin, the intrepid Jesuit priest whose heart longs to see the church embrace and honor her LGBT baptized children. One participant noted the hard-edged words of Michael Voris, staunch soldier of Church Militant; an organization that seems to believe that it is far more Catholic than the Catholic Church. When countering Martin's willingness to consider the meaning of scripture and church teaching, Voris likened the church to a sandbox where members would fully obey all teachings (as understood by Voris and his group of course) or else leave said sandbox.

Mary Keldermans, bishop at Holy Family Inclusive Catholic Community sought to respond to the question at hand, indicating that a cafeteria offers many foods, including those that are more appealing than some of the sour and antiquated dishes that some insisted ALWAYS be placed in the buffet. The sense Mary sought to convey was that we no longer need to feel obligated to eat EVERYTHING that the grumpy cooks might insist we pack away like some hungry bubba. This got me thinking about the way humans used to eat. 

For centuries, farmers rendered pig fat into lard and so, that's what people got used to cooking with. Today we know that not only does lard have no nutritional value but that it is harmful to the body by promoting heart disease. I suppose that there will always be "old school" cooks in the church who will insist we make room on our plates for dishes cooked in lard but newer cooks are now doing amazing things with olive and truffle oil or just be infusing the dish with some fresh herbs or spices.

So should today's Catholics feel obligated to believe in teachings that were written about 2,700 years ago, when women were seen as property, slaves were only procured from neighboring nations and no good and law-abiding Hebrew would ever be caught dead in a mixed linen and wool garment? It seems evident to more and more people that the intransigent believers like Michael Vores and his Neo-crusaders are developing heart disease. In all seriousness, no Catholic needs to give any credence to their mean-spirited, exclusionary and toxic teachings lest they also reduce their own heart capacity and cause others to do so. 

ON THE CONTRARY, let us consider the rich banquet of dishes that the Holy Spirit IS in fact now inspiring from the kitchens of the Deposit of Faith Restaurant. When love guides our intellect and heart both, we start to long for spiritual food that nourishes our body while also delighting our pallets. A correct study of anthropology, psychology and theology produce chefs working on the kitchen of the church who understand how to use the foods, herbs and spices that produce rich, sumptuous dishes. Then, we can practice and celebrate the true notion of a banquet being served for God's people. How freeing and wonderful to feel confident about once more inviting others to come join us for a shared meal with the new wine that the Spirit procures to bring gladness and joy!