Its followers reject the doctrine that the Church is the instrument of God’s revelation in Christ
By Deacon Bob Hunt
“Cafeteria Catholicism” remains a reality in the Church of the 21st century. We likely see examples of it in our fellow parishioners, in our families, sometimes even in our priests and the occasional bishop. “Cafeteria Catholicism” is the notion that Catholics are free to choose between the doctrines of the Church that they like, and so accept, and those doctrines they don’t like, and so reject, much as a diner has the privilege of choosing which foods he will take from the cafeteria buffet and which foods he will leave aside. It is a privilege assumed by too many Catholics. There is a fundamental problem with Cafeteria Catholicism, however, and that is the defining Catholic doctrine that the Church is the instrument of God’s revelation in Christ (Acts 15:1-29, Ephesians 3:8-12, 1 Timothy 3:15).
What that means is that, if I reject a defined doctrine of the Church, I am in danger of rejecting the doctrine that the Church is the instrument of God’s revelation in Christ. If the Church is not the instrument of God’s revelation in Christ, all that is left is the notion that each believer is the instrument of God’s revelation in Christ for that individual believer. In other words, we’re claiming that it doesn’t matter what God has revealed to us. What matters, rather, is what I believe about God. This is essentially the claim that I save myself.
But we certainly do not save ourselves. The goal of the Christian is not to ascertain what he or she believes about God at the end of a long life of reflection and contemplation. The goal of the Christian is to receive the revelation given to us in Christ Jesus through the Church and conform our lives to that revelation. “Incline my heart according to your will, O God” (Psalm 119:36).
But what if there is a doctrine of the Church that I simply cannot bring myself to accept, in all sincerity?
First, let’s be clear that what I’m talking about are the defined teachings of the Church, what one will find in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), and not merely the opinions of a religious Sister or Brother, a deacon, a priest, a bishop, or even a pope. There are many areas of life where one can freely disagree with even the pope and remain completely within the parameters of Catholicism. And while we, as Catholics, are obliged to consider seriously what the pope has to say about any matter, we are not obliged to agree with him on all matters. The same is true for any Church leader. Where the Church has authority to interpret and communicate God’s revelation are the areas of faith and morals. Those are the only areas where the Church teaches with an authority that binds all Catholics.
Even still, the freedom of the people of God on matters of conscience remains supreme. The Fourth Lateran Council taught in 1215 that “He who acts against his conscience loses his soul.” Of course, the council was speaking of a well-formed conscience. A well-formed conscience is one that has been developed over the years with prayer, humility, and, ideally, with the counsel of a spiritual director. A well-formed conscience considers the teachings of the Church with the understanding that one’s default position is acceptance of that teaching. Only when acceptance becomes impossible as a matter of respect for the dignity of oneself can dissent be considered.
Only when an issue of conscience becomes a matter of what one sincerely believes he or she ought to believe or do, or must believe or do, and not simply a matter of what one would rather believe or do, may one claim a well-formed conscience in dissenting from Church teaching. And still here, the utmost respect toward the Church as the instrument of God’s revelation in Christ must be maintained, so one may not presume the privilege of teaching his or her position of dissent to others as if it were the correct teaching, or God’s revelation. There is a principle all Catholics must keep in mind when considering the primacy of conscience over the teaching authority of the Church, and that is this: I might be wrong!
So, what to do when one is struggling with a particular teaching of the Church?
First, as alluded to above, make sure what you’re struggling with is truly a defined teaching of the Church and not merely someone’s opinion. Priests and deacons, when they preach, are wont to share their opinions on matters related to the Church, sometimes without making clear whether they are preaching on Church teaching or giving their take on a subject. If you’re going to have struggles, save them for defined doctrines.
When struggling with a Church doctrine, what one must never do is reject that teaching out of hand as one that irks me or rubs me the wrong way, or is contrary to the lifestyle I’m living and am determined to keep living. Simply rejecting or dismissing a teaching of the Church on matters of faith and morals because it is difficult to believe or live, or because one finds it inconvenient with one’s chosen lifestyle, is dishonest, lazy, and unworthy of serious faith.
Next, take it to the Lord in prayer, with a spirit of humility. Allow the Lord to speak His Word to you through Scripture and contemplation. That means one ought to be praying with the Scriptures, especially with those Scriptures that may be relevant to the teaching with which one is struggling, or that one disputes. It is essential that one truly desires to hear what the Lord has to say, and not what one wants the Lord to say.
Fourth, consider what the Fathers of the Church had to say about it. The teachings of the Fathers are considered normative for Catholics, especially those teachings set forth in the creeds of the Church, of which there are three: The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed (the one recited at Mass on Sundays), the Apostles’ Creed (the one we recite to open the rosary), and the Athanasian Creed (which you’ve likely never heard of or read; it’s long).
Next, take it to your spiritual director, or a trusted priest, deacon, or religious. Give your points. Listen to their points. One of the things they may be able to help you ascertain is if this is truly a defined doctrine or merely someone’s opinion. They may also help discern your struggle in the context of the hierarchy of truths. What is the hierarchy of truths? Put simply, our faith that Jesus is fully God and fully man is more central to our faith than is our belief in guardian angels. There are some things as a Catholic that you have to believe and other things as a Catholic that you don’t have to believe. A spiritual director can help you discern the difference. Bottom line: as a Catholic, you belong to a community. Take advantage of that. You’re not in this alone.
Finally, assume you’re wrong and live as if you are, until you can no longer do so because the matter has become one of what you must do, and never what you would rather do.
As Pope St. John XXIII said, “In essentials, unity; in doubtful matters, liberty; in all things, charity.”
Be Christ for all. Bring Christ to all. See Christ in all.
Deacon Bob Hunt is a husband, father, grandfather, and parishioner at All Saints Church in Knoxville.