Is it a mortal sin to serve meat on Lenten Fridays?

[loida]

My mom recently informed me that for her 50th birthday, which lands on a Friday this Lent, she is going to make both seafood and red meat. She said the seafood would be for our immediate family who are practicing Catholics. The red meat is for our other family members. I told her I did not think that was a good idea, since our other family members are baptized Catholics, they’re just not practicing Catholics. I guess they’re what some people call Christmas-and-Easter Catholics. To which she replied we cannot impose our beliefs on other people.

How do I deal with this situation? I know eating meat on Fridays during Lent is a mortal sin. I would not want to participate, condone, or contribute in any way to others commiting mortal sin. Please let me know the best way to deal with this situation as soon as possible. Her birthday is this Friday, March 6, 2009.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

How is it “imposing” beliefs on other people for a host to set a menu for a party he is giving that offers what he wants to serve? Would your mom expect a vegan host to serve her a steak at a party at the vegan’s home? If so, I’m afraid she’d be very disappointed. More likely, the vegan would make a festive meal that did not include any animal products. Or, to call upon an example from the religious sphere, would your mom expect a Jewish host who keeps kosher to serve bacon cheeseburgers at a barbecue he’s hosting? Again, if so, she’s likely to be disappointed.

As for the question of sin, it is not sinful for a Catholic to provide meat for those who are not bound to observe the Lenten dietary restrictions, although such a Catholic should be aware that serving meat on such a day is likely to puzzle and/or scandalize non-Catholics who would then no doubt question the Catholic’s commitment to his own beliefs. But it certainly is morally problematic to deliberately flout the dietary restrictions when hosting a party for Catholics (observant or not).

That said, that would be your mother’s responsibility. You need not boycott her birthday party merely because she is serving meat. You need only follow the abstinence requirement yourself.