Britain's Roman Catholic Church brings back no-meat Fridays

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The_Old_Medic said:
A “Required Act of Penance” is absolutely meaningless.

Penance must be voluntary to have any real meaning.
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So when we go to confession and the priest gives us penance to do, this is just only voluntary and is not required. And if you think its required then you also think its meaningless. Going to mass is required to. Is that also meaningless?

I really just don’t understand how some people think. Where do people get their ideas and thoughts from?
 
For me not eating meat is not a penance. I eat meat very rarely. So I try to do some other kind of penance.
 
ProVobis said:
Bring it to the U.S. I would love to see more Fish and Chip shops.
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The Diocese of Steubenville in Ohio does it.

I abstain from meat on Fridays all year for the same reason as Mrs Sally. I think it’s a bit easier as well.
 
Are they making it a grave sin to miss meat on Fridays? I am very much opposed to that.
 
Catholics don’t need the bishops to tell them to abstain on Fridays. We can do that all on our own if we want to.

Have to agree with The Old Medic that it is hardly a penance any more, if it ever was such. I don’t eat red meat but once a week (or less), but fish 2 or 3 times a week because it’s healthier for me to do so.
 
Yes, when you go to confession and the Priest gives you a penance, this is entirely voluntary. The act of going to confession is a voluntary act, and actually performing the penance is also a voluntary act.

But, a blanket proscription on eating meat is NOT a voluntary act. The leadership is, in effect, telling you that you either follow their idea of a penance, or you are a sinner.

It is MUCH better that a person voluntarily choose to abstain, not be told that they have to.
 
This news should make my mom happy. She’s always talking about when she was a kid and they never ate meat on fridays, just fish and vegetable based meals. Especially my grandmas salmon. I wonder if they’ll decide to reinstate it over here as well?
 
The_Old_Medic said:
Yes, when you go to confession and the Priest gives you a penance, this is entirely voluntary. The act of going to confession is a voluntary act, and actually performing the penance is also a voluntary act.

But, a blanket proscription on eating meat is NOT a voluntary act. The leadership is, in effect, telling you that you either follow their idea of a penance, or you are a sinner.

It is MUCH better that a person voluntarily choose to abstain, not be told that they have to.
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Can’t obedience be penitential?

I don’t follow your line of reasoning at all.
 
How about a truly meatless Friday? No fish - only vegetable-based meals. 🙂
 
Rich_Olszewski said:
Catholics don’t need the bishops to tell them to abstain on Fridays. We can do that all on our own if we want to.

Have to agree with The Old Medic that it is hardly a penance any more, if it ever was such. ** I don’t eat red meat but once a week (or less), but fish 2 or 3 times a week because it’s healthier for me to do so**.
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The bishops addressed that in their letter. If one does not (or rarely) eats red meat, then the penitent is to give up another food that they enjoy on Fridays.
 
The_Old_Medic said:
It is MUCH better that a person voluntarily choose to abstain, not be told that they have to.
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While is is better for the person to do it willingly, it still has spiritual benefits even if the person does it from obedience

The Catholic is bound by the precepts of the Church to fast and abstain on the appointed days
The Precepts
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You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on holy days of obligation and rest from servile labor.
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We must “sanctify the day commemorating the Resurrection of the Lord” (Sunday), as well as the principal feast days, known as Catholic holy days of obligation. This requires attending Mass, “and by resting from those works and activities which could impede such a sanctification of these days.”
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You shall confess your sins at least once a year.
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We must prepare for the Eucharist by means of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession). This sacrament “continues Baptism’s work of conversion and forgiveness.”
You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season.
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This “guarantees as a minimum the reception of the Lord’s Body and Blood in connection with the Paschal feasts, the origin and center of the Christian liturgy.”
You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church.
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“The fourth precept ensures the times of ascesis and penance which prepare us for the liturgical feasts and help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart.” See below for more about fasting & abstinence.
You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church.
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“The fifth precept means that the faithful are obliged to assist with the material needs of the Church, each according to his own ability.”
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I would definitely support meatless Fridays! I don’t eat meat very much anyway but I do think it would be nice if all Catholics practiced meatless Fridays. 🙂
 
TrueLight said:
How about a truly meatless Friday? No fish - only vegetable-based meals. 🙂
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That would work. Gone are the days of vegetables boiled and served plainly. Roasting vegetables and using herbs on them can raise the flavor to the sublime. Stir-frying is another great option. Or try Indian vegetarian dishes - a bit exotic and tasty as well. Cheese dishes as well if one doesn’t see the milk as questionable because it came from an animal.

Again, we Catholics can do that all on our own without eccesiatic prompting.
 
Brendan said:
The bishops addressed that in their letter. If one does not (or rarely) eats red meat, then the penitent is to give up another food that they enjoy on Fridays.
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Sure. I’d give up the fish I like, and go with great vegetable dishes instead.
 
Rich_Olszewski said:
That would work. Gone are the days of vegetables boiled and served plainly. Roasting vegetables and using herbs on them can raise the flavor to the sublime.
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Especially with a liberal use of garlic and butter !!! 😃

Some penance, huh ???
 
The practice of abstaining from eating meat on Fridays is to return in England and Wales later this year.

More…
 
PaulinVA said:
Can’t obedience be penitential?

I don’t follow your line of reasoning at all.
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Well said, Paul. It may be that it is not abstaining from meat that is penitential, but the obedience to the requirement of abstaining from meat that is penitential. Besides, involuntary penance is a major part of Catholicism. It is experienced in the confessional, among other places. Just because we are assigned a penance doesn’t mean it can’t be real penance for us. If you’ve a strong desire for meat, then to abstain from meat, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, is penance. If you’ve a normal desire for meat, then perhaps the obedience alone is penance. If you’ve no desire for meat, well, that’s penance in itself!

😛
 
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