Ed T posted some interesting questions on 06 Oct 13 - 11:37 AM:

Joe Offer has stated in a number of threads that many RC's ignore many aspects of the RC church, those which they have disagreement.
So, if one belongs to a church, is it not a morality-related issue when one "picks and chooses" and ignores important aspects you agree/disagree with?

I think that the idea of "obedience to authority" in the Catholic Church has often been overstated, and sometimes understood as "obedience to the Pope." It has long been Catholic teaching that obedience to one's conscience takes precedence over any other authority. The Catholic Church is supposed to inform believers, who then must make the final decision regarding their own lives. At least in current times, official statements by the Catholic Church on moral issues, are rarely, if ever, stated in the form of commands - although the press and the right-wingers often reinterpret such statements in the form of absolute commands.

But how often is it that one must vow absolute obedience to the positions of any organization as a condition of membership? It really doesn't happen very often, so why should it be a requirement for membership in a church?

Right-wing Catholics use the term "cafeteria Catholic" to describe anyone who is not in absolute lockstep with their rigid view of Catholicism. And that term makes me go ballistic - especially since the name-callers often have a very limited understanding of the church policies they're accusing others of rejecting.

-Joe-