Gerald Augustinus is a popular blogger who runs one of the best named blogs in the Catholic blogosphere, The Cafeteria is Closed. The title of his blog is a direct reference to Cafeteria Catholicism. Namely picking and choosing, like one would at a a cafeteria, which doctrines and teachings of the Church please the palette on any given day. Upon the election of Cardinal Ratzinger Pope as Pope Benedict XVI, Gerald cleverly quipped that the cafeteria was now closed. His blog has been on our blogroll since its inception. Now that will have to change.
Some weeks back Gerald posted his thoughts on the subject of homosexuality. His comments received quite a reaction from his readers, many of whom were not pleased. It was a rather long post, but some of the relevant excerpts follow. The post was written in response to a number of questions posed by a FR. RP. .
Gay people don’t “rub in” their sexuality (except for the more flamboyant participants of pride rallies or weirdos like the “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence”) any more than straight people do. The fact that they act like any other couple is not “rubbing it in” (assuming there is no public indecency) but simply not hiding part of their lives. Since this is a free country, people can, absent injury to others, live as they please. The same freedom that makes it possible for you to be Catholic makes it possible for others to be “openly” gay. Obviously, the Catholic Church has every right to ban “Dignity” from church property, but that is where it ends, just like Muslims can’t ban others from the ‘right’ to eat pork in public. Tolerance doesn’t mean embracing those with whom one disagrees but rather to let them be. Unfortunately, P.C. sometimes goes so far as to outlaw opinions differing from mainstream culture. I’m very much a libertarian when it comes to speech and actions that don’t harm others.
…
Well, first of all, we’re always ‘in heat’, unlike animals. Again, being in a committed gay is not the same as being ‘enslaved’ to sex, much like an unmarried straight couple that’s not celibate isn’t ‘enslaved’ to sex by necessity of not being married. Sex addiction is of course a problem for people, both gay and straight. Promiscuity is easier, obviously, when only men are involved. Lesbian sexual behavior is usually different. Frequently, lack of sex can become a problem in a relationship.
….
While a church – or the law, for that matter – cannot offer ‘second’ options – say, “Well if you steal, try to steal only a bit”, a society certainly should be interested in a tolerant climate and committed gay relationships rather than guilt-ridden, marginalized, closeted individuals who once in a while go on a sex spree. And, once more, homosexuality is not about mere ‘biological functions’, just like heterosexuality isn’t. It can be, certainly, and more so when there’s only testosterone to go around.
This post garnered a very strong reaction from Gerald’s readers prompting many of them to ask Gerald if the Cafeteria was now open again. I think it is obvious that Gerald’s comments do not reflect Catholic thought. While Christians should treat all people with dignity and respect, I do not think that it is proper to encourage by word, deed, or legislative act sinful behavior. I certainly do not wish to people to be more committed to their intrinsically disordered acts ccc 2357.
In comment on the above post Karen Hall of Some Have Hats said the following which summed up well my sentiments at the time.
The ideal and the Truth are what are constantly being attacked — they take a much more tougher whipping than any minority group, and constantly. And we almost never get to see anyone stand up for them. With the exception of the Pope, who you may remember, is the reason your blog got its name. I have to admit, I’ve read it for a long time and right now, I feel a bit duped.
At the time I endeavored to give Gerald the benefit of the doubt. I thought perhaps he had become too attached to a libertarian line of thinking and that this had clouded his judgment. I could relate to this as it is a stage of political thinking through which I briefly passed some decades ago but soon dismissed due to its obvious shortcomings. I also wondered if Gerald was perhaps trying to give a secular civics lesson on a Catholic blog and in doing so ignored some of the explicit teaching on the church on these matters. Anyway, like I said, I gave him the benefit of the doubt.
Truth be told, however, I have rarely read his blog since that time so I missed some follow up posts on related matters that may indicate that the slack I cut him at the time may have been unwarranted. CMR pal Red Cardigan at And Sometimes Tea alerted me to some recent comments by Gerald that are even more troubling.
Gender identity disorder is real – it usually starts before school age. While the operation and the entire process [Hormone treatments and sex change operation] 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.
Gerald now says that it would be morally licit for prepubescent children to undergo sex change therapy. This statement does not just reflect an overactive libertarian tendency, but an outright rejection of the teaching of the church on the nature of sexuality. Red Cardigan wrote in response:
I can’t even begin to express my sense of horror at the idea that children as young as ten might be give hormone treatments as part of a plan that includes the eventual mutilation of their sex organs as a way of treating what must be considered a deeply psychological problem.
I share her horror. It is because of the above that I am no longer assured that the Cafeteria is Closed will reflect Catholic teaching or can still rightly be called a Catholic blog. It is with regret that we feel that we must remove the Cafeteria from the CMR blogroll.
Gerald Augustinus, we are praying for you.
May 9, 2008 at 7:39 pm
“I guess you forgot about the other teachings of Jesus about judging lest not you be judged.”
Speak for yourself. You just made a judgment about this audience. Besides, the line is more accurately translated thus: “As you judge others, so shall you also be judged.”
May 9, 2008 at 7:49 pm
“I guess you forgot about the other teachings of Jesus about judging lest not you be judged.”
No one here judged the state of anyone’s soul, which is what Jesus was talking about. Rather, people have made exactly the sorts of judgments responsible people are supposed to make: moral judgments about the stated sentiments of a Catholic blogger that objectively and directly conflict with the teachings of the Catholic Church. I wasn’t aware that Jesus said we weren’t supposed to make judgments about right and wrong.
But thanks. I always get a kick out of having one of the three favorite Bible verses of the moral relativist thrown in my face as if that’s supposed to close off all debate on the matter.
By the way the other two are “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” and “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone”.
May 9, 2008 at 7:56 pm
I am glad Gerald picked up and carried the phrase TCIC too: it’s too good to the waste on the NY Times alone. I am also grateful to Gerald for the work he is doing on his blog. It gets a positive image of the traditional faith out there where a lot of traditional and less traditional Catholics can see it and hopefully be influenced and inspired by it. He does a beautiful job with it overall. I don’t expect to agree with everything everyone says all the time and don’t hold these differences of opinion against anyone. It keeps things interesting. I hope Gerald and the Archbolds all keep up the good work. Thanks. Kit.
May 9, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Addendum: I just checked Gerald’s blog and his archives go back to March of 2005 – so he may actually have originated the phrase TCIC. If so I apologize – should have checked facts before publishing. Kit.
May 9, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Kit, this is not about a difference of opinion. Gerald has an opinion which opposes what the Magisterium teaches. This is not about the Creative Minority Archbold’s vs. Gerald. This is about Gerald vs. the Church.
May 9, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Thank you so much for taking a stand against Gerald’s blog. I have read his extraordinary opinions about homosexuality and have even commented on his blog along with about 150 other folks who have tried to get him to understand the Church’s position. He just seems to thumb his nose at us. When it comes to sexuality, Gerald subscribes to the Moral Relativist church. After a good try, I gave up on him a while ago.I am glad to see that you have seenthe same problems and are actually doing something about it in the blogosphere! Thanks guys.
–Laura
May 9, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Thank you so much for taking a stand against Gerald’s blog. I have read his extraordinary opinions about homosexuality and have even commented on his blog along with about 150 other folks who have tried to get him to understand the Church’s position. He just seems to thumb his nose at us. When it comes to sexuality, Gerald subscribes to the Moral Relativist church. After a good try, I gave up on him a while ago.I am glad to see that you have seenthe same problems and are actually doing something about it in the blogosphere! Thanks guys.
–Laura
May 9, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Kit,
Echoing Carl, it isn’t about us. It is not simply about differences of opinion. There are a number of Catholic bloggers on our blogroll with whom we disagree often. But none of them, as far as we know, espouse their own thoughts on grave matters as superior to that of the Church.
In the big tent of the Church there are plenty of things that we can legitimately disagree upon. Sex change therapy for children is not one of them.
If you hold that opinion, you can no longer be considered a Catholic blogger. Perhaps Gerald understands this and that is why he changed the name of his blog.
I pray that Gerald submits and comes to understand the Church’s clear teaching about human sexuality. Until then…
May 9, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Patrick:
I’d like to thank you for your concise assessment of the problem with CiC. I had kept Gerald on my sidebar for awhile, even after a couple blog friends had begun to express concern over some of his opinions. But that’s all they were at the time…opinions. He has now slipped into the realm of heresy and that is a real problem. It matters not that he is a convert/neophyte, etc. Heresy is heresy. It is an act of charity and not judgment to try to steer a brother back in the right direction. I don’t believe any of us are rejoicing in Gerald’s “fall from grace…” Let’s keep him in prayer and remember that we all have the same potential to slip…may God preserve us!
May 9, 2008 at 9:31 pm
“It matters not that he is a convert/neophyte, etc.”
For the reasons I gave, which do not conflict with your point, you completely missed mine.
May 9, 2008 at 9:57 pm
I don’t mean to belabor this or pick a fight. I read Cafeteria often. Not as much as I used to because he just links a lot to other sites that I can just go to on my own. But I still go there.
I’m not sure I understand the problem here. What I think you folks are failing to understand is that Gerald was likely just talking about freedom in a secularist country such as ours. Surely, he said, parents have the right to do such things. And they do without a doubt.
However, he is not saying it’s the right thing to do. He’s just saying it’s allowed.
And he’s also saying that gender identity issues are real. And they most certainly are.
Gerald is not saying that it’s right or wrong.
I think you folks are mistaking a sociological statement for a religious one. I believe that is your error.
May 9, 2008 at 11:11 pm
“I think you folks are mistaking a sociological statement for a religious one. I believe that is your error.”
Right. A social phenomenon is acceptable, as long as it doesn’t fall under a “religious” heading. That doesn’t leave room for much definition in the way of our, uh, social conduct, now, does it?
I can behave any way I want, as long as it’s not while I’m in church on Sunday.
It’s so clear to me now…
May 10, 2008 at 1:04 am
I suspected this was coming for quite some time. Studying the case of Robert Sungenis as well, I think I may have identified a general pattern of apostasy.
1) Polemicism: The initial phase. One launches extremely bitter attacks against doctrines contrary to the Faith. Cynicism and suspiscion set in.
2) The Issue: The would-be apostate begins to obsess about something, focusing an excessive amount of attention on it to the exclusion or extreme reduction of other things.
3) Gnosis: The person in question comes to believe that he has secret knowledge about “The Issue,” and that his fellow believers are out of the loop.
4) Disillusionment: Slowly, the would-be apostate looks upon those in his camp with scorn, and mainly embarrasment.
5) Self-realization: The person makes their move, trying to change the opinions of their companions to match their own. Pride increases dramatically, and a meta-narrative, with the future apostate in the center, begins to form.
6) Heresy: The person officially proclaims their dissent, giving up on their former camp.
7) Apostasy: Knowledge about “The Issue” initiates the whole process again, this time on other aspects of the faith. The logical conclusion of this course is complete repudiation of the Faith.
May 10, 2008 at 4:10 am
Dear Carl and Patrick – You got me. I did get confused between a “sociologic” and a religious statement. It’s so easy to fall into that trap. This is clearly both sociologic and religious, as if there could be a distinction. The fact is that I am so horrified by this story purely on societal terms (what are these people thinking? – this is child abuse, and a disgrace to decency and the medical profession) that I failed to recognize it as sinful. So, yes, Gerald is straying off the reservation as well as differing from my opinion. I still like his blog, but I understand why you don’t want to link to TCIC as a Catholic site. Kit
May 10, 2008 at 5:53 am
Patrick,
Excellent analysis.
Jay,
You’re very humble about your opinions of yourself.
I enjoy reading both of your blogs and I pray that Gerald comes around to the Truth.
May 10, 2008 at 6:54 am
” just love it when you Catholics turn on your own. Step out of line and you are banished to the 7th ring of hell.”
The glee in this comment is palpable – and disgusting.
Catholicism is not a good ole boys club wherein we all just huddle together and give accolades based on consensus. If and when people do step off the reservation – straying from what the Church teaches – you don’t get a pass just because we dig you and mostly agree most of the time.
That is the built in “imprimatur” of sorts that the blogosphere has. If you are a nobody with a blog doing nothing, you can say crazy things – who is paying attention. If and when you become smarter than the Church, and you have readers, it is going to get talked about.
May 10, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I too have drifted away from TCIC in recent months. I was kind of put off by the “for hire nationwide” right under the changed masthead. Nevertheless, we should not stoop to the sin of judging our brother but pray for his soul instead. Only the Lord knows what is inside the soul of a sinner.
May 11, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I was one of the original blog-posters that initially confronted Augustinus the Apostate with his wickedness,and when that failed to move him his militant leftist and homosexual toads attacked me and others that refused to let him scrape by with his deceitful statements.Real Catholics are unwelcome at his site,as they will invariably find something to be horrified at,and thus will react in a normal human fashion at such filth.
You will be vilified and mocked ,if you fail to assent to any of their perverted proclamations of social engineering,such as gay marriage,sex changes for children,etc.
You will be accused of lack of charity and being non-Christian if You show th slightest hint of rage at their perversions.
Augustinus is a modern-day Apostate,and he deserves the official sanctions of Rome aligned against him.
Read for yourselves at his blog in his own words;and in the words of so-called ”fellow Catholics” that joined him in mocking myself and at least 2 other persons that were enraged and betrayed by this Judas.
Dominic.
May 11, 2008 at 2:34 pm
“Real Catholics are unwelcome at his site,as they will invariably find something to be horrified at,and thus will react in a normal human fashion at such filth.”
Hey, Dom, the only “toads” I’ve met on his site, are the type with nothing better to do all day than put their two cents worth in at every post their hero puts up. A few of them are pretty sharp, but most of them couldn’t last in a real argument. I have yet to meet the variety to which you refer.
Obviously I’VE got better things to do all day.
This is good, n’est ce pas?
May 11, 2008 at 7:38 pm
I will keep GA in my prayers.
As I like to say to ignore error is to partcipate in it. Very good of you at CMR to take a stand against the error.
Thank you for bringing light to a situation…I will follow in doing the same for my blog since I don’t want to answer to God for leading people to heresy.