Everything about Cafeteria Christianity totally explained
Cafeteria Christianity is a derogatory term used by some Christians to label individual
Christians or
Christian churches who, they believe, select which religious doctrines that'll follow, and which that'll not.
Cafeteria-style means to
pick-and-choose, as in choosing what food to purchase from a cafeteria line. The term implies that an individual's professed religious belief is actually a proxy for their personal opinions rather than a genuine interpretation of, Christian
doctrine. The selectivity implied may relate to the acceptance of Christian doctrines (such as the
resurrection or the
virgin birth of Jesus) or Biblical morality and ethical prohibitions (for example a rejection of homosexual acts) and is often associated with discussions concerning the
applicability of Old Testament laws to Christians and the
Sermon on the Mount.
General use
The term is generally pressed into service for
ad hominem, either to disqualify a person's
omission of a Christian precept, or to invalidate their advocacy of a
different precept entirely -- if they disobey one command of God, who are they to demand adherence to another? However, there's some basis for this selectiveness in scripture -- according to the
Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15 (as well as some of
Paul's letters),
Gentile Christians are not obliged to keep the entire
Old Testament Law.
Cafeteria Catholicism
The term Cafeteria Catholic (also
à la carte Catholic or CINO = "Catholic In Name Only") is applied to those who dissent from Catholic moral teaching on issues such as
abortion,
contraception,
premarital sex, and
homosexuality. The term is less frequently applied to those who dissent from other Catholic moral teaching on issues such as
social justice,
capital punishment, or
just war. Groups labeled as such include
Call to Action,
FutureChurch, and
Catholics for a Free Choice.
The term has no status in official Catholic teachings. However, the practice of selective adherence to the magisterium of the church has been repeatedly condemned through the teaching of the Popes:
» "Being an adult means having a faith which does not follow the waves of today's fashions or the latest novelties. A faith which is deeply rooted in friendship with Christ is adult and mature."
In a similar vein, Pope John Paul II stated in his talk
to the Bishops in Los Angeles in 1987:
» "It is sometimes reported that a large number of Catholics today don't adhere to the teaching of the Catholic Church on a number of questions, notably sexual and conjugal morality, divorce and remarriage. Some are reported as not accepting the clear position on abortion. It has to be noted that there's a tendency on the part of some Catholics to be selective in their adherence to the Church's moral teaching. It is sometimes claimed that dissent from the magisterium is totally compatible with being a "good Catholic," and poses no obstacle to the reception of the Sacraments. This is a grave error that challenges the teaching of the Bishops in the United States and elsewhere."
The term has been in use since the issuance of Humanae Vitae, an official document that reminded Catholics of the Church's opposition to the use of artificial birth control and advocates natural family planning.
Historical background
The Council of Jerusalem of about 50 AD was the first meeting in Early Christianity called upon to consider the application of Mosaic Law to the new community. Specifically, it had to consider whether new Gentile converts to Christianity were obligated to undergo biblical circumcision for full membership in the Christian community, though the issue has wider implications.
The decision of the Council came to be called the Apostolic Decree and was that most Jewish law, including the requirement for circumcision of males, wasn't obligatory for Gentile converts, possibly in order to make it easier for them to join the movement. However, the Council did retain the prohibitions against eating meat containing blood, or meat of animals not properly slain, and against "fornication" and idol worship. Beginning with Augustine of Hippo, many have seen a connection to Noahide Law, while some modern scholars reject the connection to Noahide Law and instead see as the basis. See also Old Testament Law directed at non-Jews and Leviticus 18. The modern debate over the definition of fornication and whether or not it includes Leviticus 18 is part of the Homosexuality and Christianity debate.
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