[3] Several instances of this include Catholics who support the usage of the death penalty,[4] masturbation,[5] or find no moral objections to birth control.
The term has been in use since the issuance of Humanae Vitae, an official document that propounded the Church's opposition to the use of artificial birth control and advocates natural family planning.
However, the practice of denying adherence to the sexual morality of the Church has been criticized by Pope John Paul II stated in his talk to the Bishops in Los Angeles in 1987:[9] It is sometimes reported that a large number of Catholics today do not adhere to the teaching of the Catholic Church on a number of questions, notably sexual and conjugal morality, divorce and remarriage.
This is a grave error that challenges the teaching of the Bishops in the United States and elsewhere.During morning Mass at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, Pope Francis, speaking of those who are rigidly conservative, assert 'alternative' views, or simply find a way to profit as figures in the church, said, "They may call themselves Catholic, but they have one foot out the door.
[12] Overall, a higher proportion of Third World Roman Catholics (notably Africa and the Philippines) accept the official doctrines on these subjects, while those in Western countries tend to disagree with many of them.
Religion sociologist Linda Woodhead of Lancaster University writes, "it’s not a survey in any sense that a social scientist would recognize."
If it turns out that those voices are ignored or, worse, corralled more firmly into the existing sheepfold of moral teaching, the tension may reach a breaking point.
In 2001, Gertrude Himmelfarb reported that:“Cafeteria Catholics,” as they are derogatorily called, observe only those teachings of the church that they find congenial.
[21] British actress Patsy Kensit said in an interview with The Guardian that she is an à la carte Catholic, though appreciative of "all the pomp and ceremony" of the church.