Cafeteria Catholic

A Cafeteria Catholic is somebody that picks and chooses doctrine to believe and what not to believe. A Catholic is supposed to believe in the entire teachings of their faith, all the bible liturgy and all church mandates.

Catholic Democrats are most often associated with Cafeteria Catholics because their party ideology believes in abortion as a right or gay marriage. This is in direct opposition of what Catholics are taught. By no means is it exclusive to Democrats. Catholic Republicans that believe it is necessary for capital punishment are also considered Cafeteria Catholics. Though, the Church teaches that the guilty put to death in no way equals the innocent death of children in the womb. Also, there are a number of different examples including Catholics that deny there is a hell or Moses did not part the Red Sea or that Mary was not Immaculate, fall into this same category. By Canon law, a Catholic believing other than what the Church teaches is guilty of Heresy and should not take Communion. Most Cafeteria Catholics ignore this and take Communion anyway, a Mortal Sin. The Church believes this person is separated from the Holy Spirit even without direct excommunication from Church authorities. Just as anybody can make it to Heaven and anyone can be damned to Hell, it is taught that if you believe in Jesus, that is enough Grace to be saved.