Is a catholic restaurant owner sinning if he serves meat on Fridays during Lent?

[Marfran]

Yes, I do eat on Lenten Fridays and every other day as well.

But if the restaurant owner should not serve meat to remind us of the suffering of the Lord, would it not be an even better witness if the restaurant were not open at all?

Double Ditto

 

[Yankee_Trad]

Is a catholic restaurant owner sinning if he serves meat on Fridays during Lent?

I think he is. You can be sure that many so called, “Catholics” will ignore the abstinence rule and eat meat at his restaurant. He is in fact cooperating with their sin.

Also, I think he should close on Good Friday. The thought of people eating out and gorging themselves on this day is disgusting. Everyone should be fasting and only eat modestly at home(can’t anyone cook for themselves anymore?).

Would this be imposing Catholicism on others?

Not at all, no one has to eat there.

 

[Tamsulosin]

This in reference to entry #56

You tell us that we catholics do not make sense.
Then you tell us that you cooked 4 or 5 meatless dinners for your catholic husband before Lenten Friday and then when Lenten Friday came…you gave him meat.

"WE GROW TRULY RICH BY OUR INVESTMENTS IN ETERNITY"

 

[Tamsulosin]

t ENTRY #62

I would not have an"all you can eat menu",so nobody would be gorging.Just a frugal dinner for those that would not be cooking at home for whatever reason.

So there would not be any of the picture conjured by Marfan that included people partying and drinking alcohol either.
I do agree with Marfan that eating the flesh of other animals is not that good,but that belongs in other thread.

For all those "dittos’,that want the restaurant owner to be even a better witness and go further by closing the store altogether,What sacrifices are you doing yourselves this Lent?Maybe the restaurant owner can suggest to you a way of adding to them.

 

[Lujack]

Yes, I do eat on Lenten Fridays and every other day as well.

But if the restaurant owner should not serve meat to remind us of the suffering of the Lord, would it not be an even better witness if the restaurant were not open at all?

Why would he close on Friday? Obviously, on Good Friday is one thing, but Lenten Fridays are not even days of fasting, they are days of abstinence. Heck, there isn’t even a proscription against eating big meals (although there is on Good Friday and Ash Wednesday, which is when it is wrong to replace steak with a big shrimp dinner or something).

 

[Glennon_P]

Why would he close on Friday? Obviously, on Good Friday is one thing, but Lenten Fridays are not even days of fasting, they are days of abstinence. Heck, there isn’t even a proscription against eating big meals (although there is on Good Friday and Ash Wednesday, which is when it is wrong to replace steak with a big shrimp dinner or something).

Actually, I don’t think he should close, or stop serving meat on Friday.

I was being facetious (perhaps sarcastic is a better word), responding to the idea that the owner should not have meat on the menu on Fridays during Lent as a reminder of the Lord’s passion. My argument (again, a facetious one) was, “If it’s a good thing to remind people of the Lord’s passion by not having meat on the menu on Fridays of Lent, wouldn’t it be even more of a good thing to close the restaurant to remind everyone of the Lord’s passion?”

Sorry if I misled anyone.

 

[Yankee_Trad]

t ENTRY #62

I would not have an"all you can eat menu",so nobody would be gorging.Just a frugal dinner for those that would not be cooking at home for whatever reason.

What if they want to order, “seconds” or, desert? Would you refuse them?

For all those "dittos’,that want the restaurant owner to be even a better witness and go further by closing the store altogether,What sacrifices are you doing yourselves this Lent?Maybe the restaurant owner can suggest to you a way of adding to them.

We can achieve holiness through our daily labor. We can also committ sin through it as well. I would not serve meat on the fridays of Lent. I would also close on the fast days as well, to honor Christ and encourage more people to do so as well.

I don’t know what the Church officially requires on this matter. But, my attitude is not to do those things that I can do. But, rather to do those things that I ought to.

 

[Lujack]

Actually, I don’t think he should close, or stop serving meat on Friday.

I was being facetious (perhaps sarcastic is a better word), responding to the idea that the owner should not have meat on the menu on Fridays during Lent as a reminder of the Lord’s passion. My argument (again, a facetious one) was, “If it’s a good thing to remind people of the Lord’s passion by not having meat on the menu on Fridays of Lent, wouldn’t it be even more of a good thing to close the restaurant to remind everyone of the Lord’s passion?”

Sorry if I misled anyone.

Oh, okay, that makes a lot of sense.

 

[Marfran]

This in reference to entry #56

You tell us that we catholics do not make sense.
Then you tell us that you cooked 4 or 5 meatless dinners for your catholic husband before Lenten Friday and then when Lenten Friday came…you gave him meat.

"WE GROW TRULY RICH BY OUR INVESTMENTS IN ETERNITY"

I totally mixed up my days and thought it was Thursday or Tuesday, or some other day of the week. I have so many balls to juggle–sometimes I am stricken with anxiety thinking it is Monday and I have to to X, or it is Wednesday and I have to do Y, etc,

I am Catholic too, but do not eat meat on any day.

When you have a lot of children it sometimes scrambles your mind a little–mixing up the days of the week.

I will never make that mistake again!

What bothers me about Lenten Fridays is all the Catholics that whoop it up and make it a big social event, and go out for fish fries complete with entertainment and drink.

Where I live people look forward to their fish fries–it’s a big social thing. I don’t get that.

I think this restaurant guy should do what’s best for his business and his family–and I applaud him if he goes meatless, He can honor the church rule, and for his customers who are not Catholic and like their meat–he can offer a tasty and healthy alternative, so good in fact, that they will not miss their meat. Or is this a steak house, where that would be hard to do?

I don’t agree with the party Catholics that make a big deal out of going out for fish fries. And that has nothing to do with my feelings about fish–it has to do with my feelings about Lent and partying.

 

[Marfran]

Let me preface this by saying: I love you guys ! You are all deep thinkers! I like that! The world needs more of you!

Where does this restaurant guy live? (I live in the USA.)

I was in the kitchen tonight (a Lenten Friday), preparing a spartan dinner for my family, and I could hear the television in the background–the weatherman was talking about how great the weather was in our city, for all the people venturing out for their fish frys.

Fish frys are big business here (and there is no fish industry to speak of here–it is all flown in or trucked in). Catholics and non-Catholics alike flock out in droves to participate.

I have elderly relatives that rarely go out to dinner, but look forward to Friday fish frys. It’s a big social thing here.

This bothers me because I feel that the whole point is lost–that the no-meat rule (which I think more people should practice more often, for the sake of their health anyway) has morphed into something else ENTIRELY–it does not resemble the original intention in the least.

I am not complaining about meat or no meat, fish or no fish–it is the partying that rubs me wrong, and the all-u-can-eat indulgence.

Most Catholics that I know are really into these Friday fish frys. They don’t cook on purpose, because they want to go out and have fun with others at a good tasting fish fry.

After I heard this weatherguy going on about fish frys, I cracked open our local paper. I don’t go to fish frys, and rarely go out to eat, so I had to do some research before getting back to you.

Our local paper was filled with tons of ads for *Lenten *Dinner Specials and Fish Frys.
(And again, this city does not have a substantial fish industry.)

Pecan-crusted or pan-fried walleye, peel and eat shrimp, beer-battered all-u-can-eat, cod, clam chowder, scallops, marlin, Maryland crab cakes, tuna steaks, lobster tails…and on and on and more lobster tails yet. And the word Lenten pops up in many of these ads, right next to *two-for-one special *and all-u-can-eat.

So where does this restaurant guy have his restaurant? Lenten Fridays are a gold mine and no one is complaining about the lack of meat–non-Catholics like fish, and shrimp, and lobster too.

Even the steak joints pull out the fins for Lenten Fridays.

And does anyone know the story of how the Easter egg tradition started? (Hint–it started with the abstinence of eggs for the entire period of Lent.)

 

[LilyM]

I think he is. You can be sure that many so called, “Catholics” will ignore the abstinence rule and eat meat at his restaurant. He is in fact cooperating with their sin.

Also, I think he should close on Good Friday. The thought of people eating out and gorging themselves on this day is disgusting. Everyone should be fasting and only eat modestly at home(can’t anyone cook for themselves anymore?).

Would this be imposing Catholicism on others?

Not at all, no one has to eat there.

And would a single one of them really be moved to not gorge - or to avoid meat - by one restaurant, or some restaurants, closing? Or all of them, if the person REALLY wanted to eat loads, and to eat meat?

As for the fish frys - yes, overindulgence is a sin. But they’re usually held simply to raise money for local parishes, not as an excuse for people to overindulge, although some misuse them. Heck, people can and do misuse any of the good things that God gives us - should we avoid all of 'em because it might send the wrong message to some?

 

[Tamsulosin]

Let’s see,what did you eat today?
I had half a tuna Torpedo sandwich from Quizno for lunch.

 

[maryjk]

Some of these don’t just eat meat because they want to, but actually have to for their health (anemics for example - it can be very dificult for some to get sufficient iron other than from red meat).

So you’re doing a lot more than expressing your faith - you’re thumbing your nose iin a most uncharitable way at those who, while being perfectly good Catholics, are NOT required to express their faith the same way as you, and for good reasons of their own.

That would be me. Or was me, a year ago

It is not disrespectful to non-Catholics or to these extraordinary ‘I have to eat meat on Friday at a restaurant for my health’ people you have invented here.

In fact it is a distinctly good and reverent expression of Catholic culture to not serve meat on Fridays at a Catholic restaurant. Since it is not just during Lent but throughout the year in fact, that one is not supposed to have meat, this can show a clear sign of reverence to the Lord to edify -people of all faiths-.

I wasn’t invented. I was conceived, then born.
And at one time, I was told to eat red meat 5 day a week. So yes, I could have abstained on Fridays. Unless I had chicken or fish twice already that week. So when I was required to eat red meat, I would pray the rosary or attend daily Mass on Friday as my penance.

If you had to eat meat you probably would have to eat it every day - things like iron aren’t stored well by the body. I wasn’t talking about non-Catholics in my post, by the way, but about Catholics.

And have invented no-one, I know such people who need to eat meat. And yes, people do travel, and some don’t particularly desire to cook at home anyway, and so do eat out a lot.

If you want to REALLY edify people then you should just serve bread and water - why all the luxurious food on a Friday anyway?

Right and heme iron, or iron from meat, is absorbed much better than non-heme, or iron from plants.

So you know these people? I hope you will immediately inform them of the existence of something called ‘vitamins’ which I am sure will make their lives much easier than depending on restaurants for their health.

Then perhaps when they can find nothing but a Dunkin Donuts, salad bar, etc. on the road they will not die of iron deficiency.

The use of extraordinary circumstances and exceptions, including guilt trips with pregnant women, to do away with standards in Catholicism is from Hell, not the Lord.

We are to live our Catholic lives in the world when we are not nuns and monks, and to do so unashamedly. To seek to remove Catholic culture because it troubles some people is the exact technique that has destroyed it in so many places, and removed God from public life. The Lord -owns- public life. It is His too. We are to live devoutly within it.

I wish to see many, many restaurants practicing their Catholicism.

You might want to do some research on vitamins. Iron tablets cause numerous side effects. Some not so fun.
I also can’t eat at a Dunkin’ Donuts or a salad bar. I have Celiac. So both of those are no no’s for me.

I always think it is funny when people assume that there are no special conditions out there simply because they have not come across them.

 

[Tamsulosin]

There are 4 meals in a day,does your condition require you eat steak at all of them?

Regarding the person that said"what about if someone asks for seconds at the restaurant,should the owner refuse.? Since it is not an all you can eat setup,there are no seconds.(Unless the customer orders and pays for the whole dish again.)Which I doubt
.

 

[LilyM]

There are 4 meals in a day,does your condition require you eat steak at all of them?

Regarding the person that said"what about if someone asks for seconds at the restaurant,should the owner refuse.? Since it is not an all you can eat setup,there are no seconds.(Unless the customer orders and pays for the whole dish again.)Which I doubt
.

Surely for a Catholic the issue shouldn’t be that other Catholics eat meat on Good Friday AT YOUR RESTAURANT, but that they do it on Good Friday full stop. Bit of a double standard ‘do what you like, as long as it’s not in my sight’ attitude there.

 

[maryjk]

There are 4 meals in a day,does your condition require you eat steak at all of them?

Regarding the person that said"what about if someone asks for seconds at the restaurant,should the owner refuse.? Since it is not an all you can eat setup,there are no seconds.(Unless the customer orders and pays for the whole dish again.)Which I doubt
.

You know, I didn’t get into how many times a day I needed to eat meat. But I eat 3 meals a day, not 4.

All I know is my doctor told me to eat meat as often as I could, but at least 5 times a week. My iron storage was very low. My red blood cells were small. And I was very tired. I didn’t ask about how much was the perfect amount of meat.

I just went out and bought a lot of beef and pork. If I had gone out to dinner, walked in and found out that the only option was a fish fry, I would have left. Not only would the fish not have had the iron I needed, it would also have breading, which I could not have.

I tend, even now, to not order fish in a restaurant. Mainly because it is almost always breaded. Even broiled or pan cooked is often dusted with flour. I can’t have that.

 

[Tamsulosin]

Dear MaryJK:
As cathlics, it is part of our obligation to try to meet the needs of our brothers and sisters.
Consequently,the restaurant owner in question , upon your calling for a reservation, would make sure to gather from the fridge a cut of meat rich in the nutrients you need ,and have a warm bowl of lentils to accompany it,since lentils are know to have lots of iron.
You would be most welcomed an appreciated as a customer,even if it would mean going the extra mile to accomodate your nutritional requirements.

Aside from that, I seriously think you may want to ask for a second medical opinion, since while meat can help your anemia,a lot of pork and red meat,in most of your meals can jeopardize other areas of your health.(your cholesterol, triglicerides,too much protein for your kidneys, and a higher propensity to cancer associated with high consumption of red meat.)Take good care of yourself and may God bless you.Tam

 

[Yankee_Trad]

And would a single one of them really be moved to not gorge - or to avoid meat - by one restaurant, or some restaurants, closing? Or all of them, if the person REALLY wanted to eat loads, and to eat meat?

If I own a drug store, would it be all right if I sold contraceptives? Would anyone be moved not to buy them, if I refuse to sell them?

If people want to do something wrong, they will. But, I don’t have to be a part of it.

Tamsulosin:

Regarding the person that said"what about if someone asks for seconds at the restaurant,should the owner refuse.? Since it is not an all you can eat setup,there are no seconds.(Unless the customer orders and pays for the whole dish again.)Which I doubt

What if they want to order anything else? No desert? No pie, ice cream and coffee? No take-out for later? What kind of restaurant doesn’t offer these things?

Do you refuse them? What would you say to them?

Sorry pal, you’ve had enough! It’s Good Friday and you need to fast!

maryjk:

If I had gone out to dinner, walked in and found out that the only option was a fish fry, I would have left.

Can’t the .01% of the population that needs to eat meat on these days, simply cook at home?

 

[LilyM]

Can’t the .01% of the population that needs to eat meat on these days, simply cook at home?

Can’t the .01% of the population that needs wheelchairs to get around in public just stay at home?

 

[Tamsulosin]

No dessert waiter?
Sorry we are out of desserts today.But I can offer you tea or coffee ,gladly.