Recently in the Catholic Answers forums, someone wrote,

There seem to be a lot of people who protest against the teachings of the Church, but choose to stay in the Church. Or at least, they dissent from Church teaching, but still continue to go to Catholic churches and call themselves Catholic. Why do they do this?

This is so-called “cafeteria Catholicism” — you know, take what you like from the selection, ignore (or discard) what you don’t like, and move on. Some of these people may have an ulterior motive to destroy the Church from within. (Even Pope Paul VI admitted that the smoke of Satan infiltrated the Church.) But the bigger problem is ignorance.

Due to extremely poor catechism since the 1960s, the past several generations don’t know any better. They are unfamiliar with dogma. They subscribe to rationalism, empiricism, and all sorts of enlightenment and post-enlightenment secularist philosophy, because that is all they know. When confronted with religious orthodoxy, they view it as antiquated and incompatible with modern living… For example, “Abstinence? Who does that anymore? Get with the times!” “Why should I get married?” “We don’t want kids yet — we want to be able to travel for a few years before we settle down.”

But this problem goes way beyond the sexual revolution.

Poor catechism and a cultural revolution within the Church itself has translated into loss of faith. One quick example: Getting rid of Communion rails resulted in the need for processions; processions were easier and more fluid if people remained standing instead of genuflecting at the head of the line; with people standing, it was ergonomically more difficult for the priest to give Communion on the tongue; and so there is introduction of Communion in the hand. With the loss of genuflection, with the introduction of Communion in the hand, with the introduction of eucharistic ministers (some needed, most not; some good, many horrible), there gradually developed a loss of the appreciation of the sacredness of the Eucharist. The final blow was dealt by a near total absence of instruction regarding the reality of the Transubstantiation, on the pulpit, or even in Catholic schools or religious education classes. And thus, thousands upon thousands of “cafeteria Catholics” don’t believe in the Real Presence. [Want to know more? Read The Right (and Duty) to Kneel.]

Lex orandi, lex credendi.

And given this state of disbelief, or at least misunderstanding, why should people change? Our dear Lord himself said that the path to Hell is wide (but comfortable); but the path to Heaven is narrow (and demanding). If one doesn’t really believe in sin anymore (if it all boils down to “lifestyle choices” — some better, some poorer), then why should one choose the path that is uncomfortable? G.K. Chesterton once quipped, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried.”

Things will change only when the Church itself is renewed. If even most priests fail to preach about sin or the four last things, why should people believe in “all that fire and brimstone stuff?” They don’t know any better.

Truly, the onus falls upon the Shepherds to tend their flock and to feed their sheep. We shouldn’t expect the average “cafeteria Catholic” to log onto the internet and download the Pope’s latest encyclical. Nor will he turn on EWTN when he could be vegging on the couch, watching Sex in the City or Will & Grace. Priests must

1. Lead by example — i.e., by leading holy lives;
2. Be “lions in the pulpit” and preach meaningful sermons that challenge people to “put on new clothes in Christ;”
3. Take advantage of every opportunity to teach about dogma, faith, morals, the sacraments, and rubrics of the Mass. (This goes doubly for during Confession.)

We lay orthodox Catholics can help by encouraging this type of renewal from our parish priests and by charitably teaching those around us.