The Cafeteria Is Closed Blog

[Lil Red]

[quote name='LouisvilleFan' post='1526054' date='May 12 2008, 02:47 PM']So we're all "Closed Cafeteria Catholics" til Our Lady of the Hairnet throws something on our plate that we don't like?[/quote]
+J.M.J.+
i'm sorry, i don't understand what you mean. could you clarify?

[LouisvilleFan]

[quote name='Lil Red' post='1526061' date='May 12 2008, 05:56 PM']+J.M.J.+
i'm sorry, i don't understand what you mean. could you clarify? [/quote]

It was sarcasm directed towards this self-proclaimed Closed Cafeteria Catholic who literally wanted to build a career blasting Cafeteria Catholics... until the bishops give him something he doesn't like.

Suddenly, humility ain't so much fun.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='LouisvilleFan' post='1526108' date='May 12 2008, 03:35 PM']It was sarcasm directed towards this self-proclaimed Closed Cafeteria Catholic who literally wanted to build a career blasting Cafeteria Catholics... until the bishops give him something he doesn't like.

Suddenly, humility ain't so much fun.[/quote]
+J.M.J.+
oh, okay. gotcha.

[Alycin]

When I first started reading his post, I was thinking, "What's all the fuss about?" I didn't find much that was factually incorrect until I got here.

"This difference is certainly a handicap but it [u]doesn't make successful relationships impossible[/u]. Since [u]the orientation is not a choice[/u], only the actions are, this insight doesn't do gays much good, it's about the same as pointing out the lack of vision to a blind person."

"an unmarried straight couple that's not celibate isn't 'enslaved' to sex" (I can see where he is coming from in differentiating between sexual addiction, where sex becomes compulsive, but, the way I see it, the couple is still enslaved to sin. So I disagree with him on that.)

"No one makes blind people feel guilty. The same should go for people with an orientation that's different from what's regular."

He is obviously operating from the standpoint that homosexuality is never a choice, which I find odd, since that hasn't been proven or disproven. However, even if it WERE true, comparing a blind person to a gay person is crazy. Far as I can tell, blind people are not more likely to commit immoral acts because of their blindness.

A person who struggles with SSA but wants to, and is trying to, live a moral and chaste life is much different than someone who lives a homosexual lifestyle openly and freely. The latter should feel guilt. Healthy guilt* is what lets us know that we're doing something wrong. The former should not be made to feel guilty simply because he has unwanted struggles with a particular sin.

*as opposed to unhealthy guilt or shame. (sorry for the therapy-speak. )

[Madame Vengier]

[quote name='Lil Red' post='1525974' date='May 12 2008, 03:08 PM']+J.M.J.+
1. he picked the name for the blog because it was a good phrase (witty remark),
2. when he picked it, he didn't realize that he would disagree with bishops regarding civil unions for those with SSA or gay adoption
3. he is in favor of adoption of children by those with SSA (based on wife's work)
4. he is in favor of civil unions for those with SSA (based on friends)
5. he freely admits that because he disagrees with the bishops about those with SSA, he is a 'Cafeteria Catholic'.

this is how i read it.[/quote]


Thanks. What a hypocrite. All this time screaming about orthodoxy and castigating unfaithful priests, bishops, politicians, you name it. Now look at him. Can't even figure out something as simple as gays have no business raising children OR being "married"...civilly or otherwise.

Actually, if I was going to have a crisis of faith it would never be over something so obvious as homosexuality or abortion, things like that.

[Madame Vengier]

[quote name='LouisvilleFan' post='1526108' date='May 12 2008, 04:35 PM']It was sarcasm directed towards this self-proclaimed Closed Cafeteria Catholic who literally wanted to build a career blasting Cafeteria Catholics... until the bishops give him something he doesn't like.

Suddenly, humility ain't so much fun.[/quote]

Hiiiiiiiiiyoooooo! Ironic, isn't it???

[Lil Red]

[quote name='Madame Vengier' post='1526150' date='May 12 2008, 04:29 PM']Thanks. What a hypocrite. All this time screaming about orthodoxy and castigating unfaithful priests, bishops, politicians, you name it. Now look at him. Can't even figure out something as simple as gays have no business raising children OR being "married"...civilly or otherwise.

Actually, if I was going to have a crisis of faith it would never be over something so obvious as homosexuality or abortion, things like that.[/quote]
+J.M.J.+
unfortunately, it sounds like his wife's job and his friends have influenced him for the worse, in this aspect.

and what would you have a crisis of faith over?

[Madame Vengier]

[quote name='Lil Red' post='1526153' date='May 12 2008, 05:31 PM']+J.M.J.+
unfortunately, it sounds like his wife's job and his friends have influenced him for the worse, in this aspect.

and what would you have a crisis of faith over?[/quote]

It does sound that way, doesn't it? And that whole thing about "experiences of friends" is a classic. So, because the people we love seem to be so happy and functional in their sin, that makes it okay? It's really a backwards way of thinking.

Crisis of faith? For me? It would be over the general--and often overwhelming--unfairness of life.

Edited May 12, 2008 by Madame Vengier

[Lil Red]

[quote name='Madame Vengier' post='1526173' date='May 12 2008, 04:49 PM']It does sound that way, doesn't it? And that whole thing about "experiences of friends" is a classic. So, because the people we love seem to be so happy and functional in their sin, that makes it okay? It's really a backwards way of thinking.

Crisis of faith? For me? It would be over the general--and often overwhelming--unfairness of life.[/quote]
+J.M.J.+
i see the 'experience of friends' thing as compassion on steroids. ya know? you see them 'suffering', you want to help them with their pain. problem being you usually just become an accomplice in their sinful lifestyle.

that's interesting about unfairness of life. the crisis of faith for me would be about how priests who abuse little children can validly confect (not sure if this is the right word) the Sacraments.

[Alycin]

[quote name='Madame Vengier' post='1526173' date='May 12 2008, 06:49 PM']So, because the people we love seem to be so happy and functional in their sin, that makes it okay? It's really a backwards way of thinking.[/quote]

[quote name='Lil Red' post='1526186' date='May 12 2008, 06:56 PM']i see the 'experience of friends' thing as compassion on steroids. ya know? you see them 'suffering', you want to help them with their pain. problem being you usually just become an accomplice in their sinful lifestyle.[/quote]

Agreed, on both counts.

I honestly think that this is one of the most deceptive tricks the devil has been able to play on humanity--to make people believe that "love" means never hurting feelings, when really, true love is CHRIST and anytime we aren't directing our loved ones to Christ, we are doing them a terrible disservice!

Enabling is NOT love!

[Galloglasses]

Okay his return post from Europe is turning me, making it seem as if the EU and the 'peace' it brings is greater then the nationalism Europe is characteristic for. Ironic in that i'm an Irish Nationalist AND becuase he seems Blind to the evils of the EU, pressurizing the mostly Catholic States of Poland, Malta and another one, can't remember, to legalise abortion, campaigining here in Ireland to make the elctorate think the Irish Veto, (No Vote), to the Lisbon Treaty actually means anything at all. Oh yes, the EU is a good thing.

But his veiw of the political situation in Europe, however schewed, is not what bothers me.

It seems to me as if he prefers peace over all things, if that means sacrificing Nationalism, (which he's blasting as an evil outright), then so be it. I guess patriotism is only applicable to Americans for him. Personally I'd rather Justice to Peace, which, if what God says to St.Faustina in her journals is true, is what God favours to. "My Mercy does not want this, but Justice demands it" (In reference to the Holy Souls in Purgetory) Altough i'm far from a theological expert, I wouldn't be surprised if I was wrong here.

I'm still willing to give him the benifit of the doubt, i'ma keep reading his blog, see if he changes any more or less.

[Socrates]

[quote name='Galloglasses' post='1523257' date='May 9 2008, 12:14 PM']This is what he said regarding the sex-change for kids comment:
[i]"Gender identity disorder is real - it usually starts before school age. While the operation and the entire process is easier before puberty, it'd seem wiser to let the person make the decision as an adult. Of course, parents have the right to decide on medical treatment - within limits."[/i]

Of course I do not agree with him, I'm far too right wing to be considered a libertarian, but he did not say that the prepubescent Sex Change was morally licit, this is a fallacy, he was making a generally statment that [b]Parents[/b] have the right to make decisions for their kids medically speaking, within limits.[/quote]
I looked that up, and he seems to be talking about this particular "sex change" business. A lot of people were blasting him for this and arguing in the "comments' section, but rather than clarify in the midst of this fury, Gerald's only response was, "All gay all the time," followed by a smiley face, as if to mock the opposition.

[quote]"I took the Cafeteria tag out of my logo, btw, so spare me the umpteenth dig re: that. When I put it up, I a) meant it as a bon mot and b) had no idea that bishops would, eg, actively campaign against civil unions for homosexuals. Since I came out in favor of that and defended gay adoption (based on my wife’s prior work in the field and from the example of friends), too, my position as a 'Cafeteria Catholic' is firmly established and need not be brought up at every turn, as if it were a new insight. I freely admit it. The far-right and whatever you could be described as are correct in saying so."[/quote]

Oh, "The Cafeteria is Closed" guy had [i][b]no idea[/b][/i] the Catholic Church would take a stance in accord with Catholic moral teaching!
Who woulda thunk it??
(Guess he was hoping the cafeteria would stay open after all.)

This dude's blog should be closed, and he should get a job.

[LouisvilleFan]

That's pretty hilarious. Now he can related a bit to how all those "other Catholics" felt when he pointed out their selective tastes in theology and morality.

Of course, hopefully he'll eventually recognize his error and repent, but that'll likely take a lot of time. While I personally think his pride was blinding, opening him up to this happening in the first place, he serves to remind us that we must all continually re-embrace the cross and decrease ourselves so that Christ my increase. The first step towards becoming a regular at Rome's Golden Corral can be a small as allowing yourself a couple more months between Confessions or neglecting time in prayer and Scripture.

The odd thing about Gerald's sudden departure to Cafeterianism is it's not like the bishops came out with any new teaching. They've only repeated exactly what the Church has always taught.

Edited May 13, 2008 by LouisvilleFan

[Lil Red]

[quote name='LouisvilleFan' post='1526547' date='May 12 2008, 08:33 PM']That's pretty hilarious. Now he can related a bit to how all those "other Catholics" felt when he pointed out their selective tastes in theology and morality.

Of course, hopefully he'll eventually recognize his error and repent, but that'll likely take a lot of time. While I personally think his pride was blinding, opening him up to this happening in the first place, he serves to remind us that we must all continually re-embrace the cross and decrease ourselves so that Christ my increase. The first step towards becoming a regular at Rome's Golden Corral can be a small as allowing yourself a couple more months between Confessions or neglecting time in prayer and Scripture.

The odd thing about Gerald's sudden departure to Cafeterianism is it's not like the bishops came out with any new teaching. They've only repeated exactly what the Church has always taught.[/quote]
+J.M.J.+
agreed. which reminds me that i need to go to Confession soon.

[jeffpugh]

[quote name='LouisvilleFan' post='1526054' date='May 12 2008, 04:47 PM']So we're all "Closed Cafeteria Catholics" til Our Lady of the Hairnet throws something on our plate that we don't like?[/quote]


I totally got that!

[Madame Vengier]

[quote name='Socrates' post='1526482' date='May 12 2008, 09:04 PM']This dude's blog should be closed, and he should get a job.[/quote]


Word.