Eating meat on Fridays

[Vico]

I think that three priests’ statements in regards to this (two of which are known for being orthodox & perspicacious), along with a layman that is well-known for his knowledge, is sufficient to show that there is no sin in not abstaining. It is a misinterpretation of the efforts of the Bishops, who stressed that Friday is a penitential day despite the fact that no penance is obligatory under pain of sin anymore, to say that we still are obligated to abstain or do penance. The document that the Bishops gave can be very misleading, which is why I had to ask two priests for advice even after reading it. I want us to have to do penance on Friday under pain of sin, but sadly that is not the case.

People seem to think that “no obligatory meat abstinence” means no obligatory penance at all. Father Kenneth Doyle (Albany, N.Y) states that Catholics are “obliged to observe each Friday as a day of special penance” (including the USA):Q. Is it still required to abstain from meat on all the Fridays of the year? I was in Minnesota and read in a parish bulletin that this was true (i.e. all Fridays, not just during Lent.). Recently my daughter was visiting from Virginia and said that she had heard the same thing. What is the truth? (Breese, Illinois)

A. The simple and direct  answer to your question is "no." Catholics in the United States are not  required to abstain from meat on Fridays. But the full and fair response  is more complicated. Catholics throughout the world are obliged to  observe each Friday as a day of special penance in recognition of the  fact that Jesus died for us on that day. The church's Code of Canon Law  (specifically Nos. 1251 and 1253) grants national conferences of bishops  the authority to determine what, specifically, that penance might  entail for Catholics of their countries.

thebostonpilot.com/opinion/article.asp?ID=174369

 

[JimR-OCDS]

People seem to think that “no obligatory meat abstinence” means no obligatory penance at all. Father Kenneth Doyle (Albany, N.Y) states that Catholics are “obliged to observe each Friday as a day of special penance” (including the USA):Q. Is it still required to abstain from meat on all the Fridays of the year? I was in Minnesota and read in a parish bulletin that this was true (i.e. all Fridays, not just during Lent.). Recently my daughter was visiting from Virginia and said that she had heard the same thing. What is the truth? (Breese, Illinois)

A. The simple and direct  answer to your question is "no." Catholics in the United States are not  required to abstain from meat on Fridays. But the full and fair response  is more complicated. Catholics throughout the world are obliged to  observe each Friday as a day of special penance in recognition of the  fact that Jesus died for us on that day. The church's Code of Canon Law  (specifically Nos. 1251 and 1253) grants national conferences of bishops  the authority to determine what, specifically, that penance might  entail for Catholics of their countries.

thebostonpilot.com/opinion/article.asp?ID=174369

From the article you linked:

Abstaining from meat on Fridays is optional; doing penance on Fridays is not. If you choose to eat meat on Friday, you should – in fidelity to church law and to church tradition – substitute some other practice of self-denial. In this way, Christ’s passion and death on Good Friday is highlighted and honored.

Notice “you should,” not “you must.” Hence the penalty of committing mortal sin doesn’t exist because the issue is complicated enough to prevent most Catholics from having full knowledge.

Jim

 

[Confiteor_Deo]

People seem to think that “no obligatory meat abstinence” means no obligatory penance at all. Father Kenneth Doyle (Albany, N.Y) states that Catholics are “obliged to observe each Friday as a day of special penance” (including the USA):Q. Is it still required to abstain from meat on all the Fridays of the year? I was in Minnesota and read in a parish bulletin that this was true (i.e. all Fridays, not just during Lent.). Recently my daughter was visiting from Virginia and said that she had heard the same thing. What is the truth? (Breese, Illinois)

A. The simple and direct  answer to your question is "no." Catholics in the United States are not  required to abstain from meat on Fridays. But the full and fair response  is more complicated. Catholics throughout the world are obliged to  observe each Friday as a day of special penance in recognition of the  fact that Jesus died for us on that day. The church's Code of Canon Law  (specifically Nos. 1251 and 1253) grants national conferences of bishops  the authority to determine what, specifically, that penance might  entail for Catholics of their countries.

thebostonpilot.com/opinion/article.asp?ID=174369

Here is another article from Jimmy Akin on the matter that elaborates even further concerning Friday penance in the US. More on Friday Penance
In the article, he says:

1. In that regard, one could disagree with my analysis and say that the 1966 document is sufficiently ambiguous that it is doubtful whether the faithful are obligated to do anything on most Fridays of the year. However, in that case, canon 14 of the 1983 Code kicks in and tells us:

‘Laws, even invalidating and disqualifying ones, do not oblige when there is a doubt about the law.’

Therefore, we’d be facing a doubt of law situation and so–until such time as Rome chooses to clarify–we still would not be obliged to do penance on most Fridays of the year.

He also makes mention of a 1983 document called “The Challenge of Peace” in which the Bishops said, “We call upon our people *voluntarily * to do penance on Friday by eating less food and by abstaining from meat.” This indicates that the Bishops have made Friday penance voluntary and not obligatory under pain of sin.

 

[Vico]

Here is another article from Jimmy Akin on the matter that elaborates even further concerning Friday penance in the US. More on Friday Penance
In the article, he says:

He also makes mention of a 1983 document called “The Challenge of Peace” in which the Bishops said, “We call upon our people *voluntarily * to do penance on Friday by eating less food and by abstaining from meat.” This indicates that the Bishops have made Friday penance voluntary and not obligatory under pain of sin.

It seems that your concern is not what we should do, but if it is binding as sin. We know that we should do Friday penance.

The Diocese of Knoxville website has this:A national episcopal conference, then, has the authority to substitute Friday fasts and abstinence with other forms of penance or charity. Note that this doesn’t say “we’re going to eat meat most Fridays, and do absolutely nothing to remind ourselves of Jesus on those days.” Bishops can transfer days of penitence, and/or substitute abstinence or fast with other practices “especially works of charity and the exercises of piety.”
The Pastoral statement of 1966 was clear to “especially commend” abstinence from flesh meat:
24. Among the works of voluntary self-denial and personal penance which we especially commend to our people for the future** observance of Friday**, even though we hereby terminate the traditional law of abstinence binding under pain of sin,** as the sole prescribed means of observing Friday**, we give first place to abstinence from flesh meat.

 

[Confiteor_Deo]

It seems that your concern is not what we should do, but if it is binding as sin. We know that we should do Friday penance.

The Diocese of Knoxville website has this:A national episcopal conference, then, has the authority to substitute Friday fasts and abstinence with other forms of penance or charity. Note that this doesn’t say “we’re going to eat meat most Fridays, and do absolutely nothing to remind ourselves of Jesus on those days.” Bishops can transfer days of penitence, and/or substitute abstinence or fast with other practices “especially works of charity and the exercises of piety.”
The Pastoral statement of 1966 was clear to “especially commend” abstinence from flesh meat:
24. Among the works of voluntary self-denial and personal penance which we especially commend to our people for the future** observance of Friday**, even though we hereby terminate the traditional law of abstinence binding under pain of sin,** as the sole prescribed means of observing Friday**, we give first place to abstinence from flesh meat.

Yes, I was mostly concerned with penance being obligated under pain of sin. I know we should do penance since the Bishops encourage us to do so and it is a tradition in the Church. I, personally, try to abstain on Fridays since I like to do it. I suppose I misunderstood what you were trying to say. My apologies.