Questions for Catholics who...?

Catholic teaching is not as monolithic as some would have you believe. In regard to homosexuality, the teaching is that homosexual acts are "disordered", but the church also insists on the intrinsic dignity of every human being, even sinners. Apart from the sex, equal rights for gay couples is a matter of acknowledging the equal dignity of every person. And the sex is a matter of personal morality, not public or institutional coercion, A person's conscience cannot be forced, and external efforts to override it are immoral themselves.

When Pope Paul VI commissioned studies of the birth control issue, two groups, one of doctors and laity, another of clergy, unanimously concluded that there was no moral wrong in conception control. But Paul was intimidated by arch-conservatives and ignored the advice when he wrote Humanae Vitae. This was a policy decision, much like clerical celibacy, long standing but ultimately subject to change. And it ignores its own moral consequences, such as generational poverty, the degradation of women and the environmental impacts of overpopulation. Recently Pope Benedict spoke out about the relative morality of the use of condoms, indicating that the the moral logic and reconciliation of conflicting values is still being worked out internally.

To be a mature Catholic, one must not merely, unquestioningly accept the pronouncements of whoever is in charge right now. One must actually engage one's faith, study and contrast the moral conflicts, and take informed ownership of one's faith. Deviating from the official line is dissent, not disobedience when one is guided by legitimate, if contrasting, Christian moral values. The Holy Spirit promised to guard and guide the Church, not its individual leaders, from error. The people of the Church have a moral say in its development, much as hierarchs would like to deny them. And those Catholics who prefer to let their bishops and popes do their thinking for them are avoiding their own moral responsibilities to grow and mature in faith.

Personally, I have no problem being called a cafeteria Catholic. Gay rights are human rights and I'm not going to step on anybody's, and anyway I think the Bible verses which supposedly deal with homosexuality are very ambiguous.

It's about finding a balance between thinking for yourself and being told what to believe.

You are a cafeteria catholic, what kind of response do you expect ? You prefer the cafeteria coffee and sandwich to the lord's body and blood that will give you everlasting life.

Are you aware the church has the authority to decide on the matters, I too commit or have committed some of things you listed but I acknowledge they are a sin, I do not go around try to justify them.

I see it as just adapting beliefs to modern society, gay marriage and birth control are both a reality and a very good thing. What would a religious person rather, someone avoiding getting pregnant or getting an abortion?(don't anyone dare say don't have sex) If people didn't change how they follow the bible, parents would still be stoning their children to death.

I just say they are opinions, they are not doctrines.. the church teachings are ok.. but they can change but our doctrines cannot change.

Love my cafeteria, double stack of bacon please. ( bet you thought that I was going for stack of pancakes.