Maria Shriver on being a ‘Cafeteria Catholic’
Wouldn’t people rather go to a feast and savor every single morsel, than pick and choose what looks good or appetizing? Why fool oneself, why use a name to which you can’t/won’t even commit? Why call yourself a Catholic when you can’t even say the word without a “but”? Don’t people want something in their lives that they can embrace wholeheartedly, be proud of, be exultant about, suffer for, live for? What is a faith that doesn’t fully envelop, fill, inspire, define a person? Why even call it faith? What’s the appeal of “being” Catholic when you see so much that you have to be apologetic for, or explain away, or change, or that’s inadequate? Wouldn’t it be much simpler to just pick another “religion”? How do Cafeteria Catholic parents explain their faith — if they could call it that — to their children?
“Why call yourself a Catholic when you can’t even say the word without a “but”?”
What a great statement and sadly so true..
They must be really hungry because the last time I checked the cafeteria was closed! Me, I’m all about the full course dinner. 😉
Stef,
Re: “How do Cafeteria Catholic parents explain their faith
in my family…?”
Growing up we did not discuss our faith. We talked about the administrative aspects of the parish life, church activities, schedules, etc, but not about our faith.
Joe K