Is it okay to eat out on Sunday?

[AnneElizabeth]

Post #12 has the link to the whole section.

I don’t see it saying its prohibited either. 2184 quotes that family, social and cultural activities may require some people to work on Sundays.

I never said it states that it is prohibited. There are exceptions. Yet it never flatly states it is ok either. What I’m trying to get across is that the CC states that Catholic has to make a judgement on whether it is necessary or not.

We were not talking about people working on Sunday, (which is what the part of 2184 you posted here is talking about) we were discussing Catholics eating out on Sunday. There is a difference.

 

[PatriceA]

I never said it states that it is prohibited. There are exceptions. Yet it never flatly states it is ok either. What I’m trying to get across is that the CC states that Catholic has to make a judgement on whether it is necessary or not.

We were not talking about people working on Sunday, (which is what the part of 2184 you posted here is talking about) we were discussing Catholics eating out on Sunday. There is a difference.

You are talking about people working on Sunday, you have in every comment you’ve posted in this thread. You have even suggested to go out to eat is demanding people to work and is creating scandal. CCC 2184 states social, family and cultural activities may require some to work on Sundays. For some families, Sunday may be the only day they can enjoy each other’s companies, such as a birthday dinner as the OP is considering, its a family activity is it not? Its a once a year celebration, a milestone in our culture, a social occasion, correct? One that may ask people to work in a restaurant so this family can enjoy a family milestone together, correct? So how does that not fit into the teachings that have been cited by myself and other posters?

 

[AnneElizabeth]

You are talking about people working on Sunday, you have in every comment you’ve posted in this thread. You have even suggested to go out to eat is demanding people to work and is creating scandal. CCC 2184 states social, family and cultural activities may require some to work on Sundays. For some families, Sunday may be the only day they can enjoy each other’s companies, such as a birthday dinner as the OP is considering, its a family activity is it not? Its a once a year celebration, a milestone in our culture, a social occasion, correct? One that may ask people to work in a restaurant so this family can enjoy a family milestone together, correct? So how does that not fit into the teachings that have been cited by myself and other posters?

Hmm… I think you stated some wrong things about what I’ve said, but I’ll give it a shot to try and clear up the confusion…

If “Every Christian should avoid making* unnecessary demands on others* that would hinder them from observing the Lord’s Day” then give me an example of what according to this passage of the CCC is ‘unnecessary demands on others’.

If it is as you say, then anything then could fit under the category of "social, family or cultural activity’ , thus rendering the part that says “making unnecessary demand on others” meaningless.
…

What does it mean to give a good example if we have others do for us what we ought not do ourselves? (Work on Sunday, save in some dire circumstances.)

Eat on Sunday and have others work for you, but we ourselves are not really supposed to be working- though exceptions are made for those in dire circumstances and need to. Seems hypocritical to me.

This is what I mean by bad example or scandal. It doesn’t sit right. It doesn’t make sense. It would seem the practice means nothing really. Does having others work for you on Sunday- even if they decided they are going to work- demonstrate Catholic beliefs?

 

[Veronica97]

You are talking about people working on Sunday, you have in every comment you’ve posted in this thread. You have even suggested to go out to eat is demanding people to work and is creating scandal. CCC 2184 states social, family and cultural activities may require some to work on Sundays. For some families, Sunday may be the only day they can enjoy each other’s companies, such as a birthday dinner as the OP is considering, its a family activity is it not? Its a once a year celebration, a milestone in our culture, a social occasion, correct? One that may ask people to work in a restaurant so this family can enjoy a family milestone together, correct? So how does that not fit into the teachings that have been cited by myself and other posters?

I guess I didn’t realize what a stir my question would cause. I thought there would be a clearcut “yes” or “no” answer. My husband’s birthday was Tuesday, but he was working out of town. He came home tonight, but I figured he’d be tired and would rather celebrate over the weekend. He’s off Friday but we don’t eat meat on Friday and he wants steak. So we’re celebrating HIS birthday on Saturday. Meanwhile, my son’s birthday is Sunday and he wants sushi from the Japanese restaurant. So I thought we could eat out to celebrate his birthday, but yes, I was concerned about others working on Sunday. I guess if someone had to work on Sunday b/c their employer required it (or b/c they needed the money to pay rent), they could always ask for an hour off in order to worship. I don’t think an employer could legally say “no” to that, could they?

 

[cheezey]

I think THIS kind of work is great, and full of christian love. I have a lot of respect for people who work to give people in a worse situation a place to feel good and beloved…For this people sunday can be the worst day of the week, when all the others spend their time with fiends and family and they don t have anyone carinf for them. But this is not the ordinary sunday work most people have to do…most people- let us forget all the doctors, farmers, policemn for a while- are working in sales/ trading business, in restaurants, in general in “service business”. This has nothing to do with making people happy, just with making money as always. I don t think that this is a good work for a sunday…

Again, I understand. But I cannot tell you how lonely it is out there. My bookstore provided a place for people who would otherwise be alone, to have someone to talk to, be with; feel less alone. This is precisely why I eat in restaurants on Sunday; I have no one, but no one with whom to have a Sunday dinner. They remember my name and my preference for decaf without prompting. They have become my family. Aiding help in someone’s lonliness is serving Him.
Service businesses absolutely contribute to making people happy.
We are servants to each others’ care, well-being and happiness through the Good Lord who gave us each other. Even on Sundays. Really, especially Sundays.

 

[PatriceA]

I guess I didn’t realize what a stir my question would cause. I thought there would be a clearcut “yes” or “no” answer. My husband’s birthday was Tuesday, but he was working out of town. He came home tonight, but I figured he’d be tired and would rather celebrate over the weekend. He’s off Friday but we don’t eat meat on Friday and he wants steak. So we’re celebrating HIS birthday on Saturday. Meanwhile, my son’s birthday is Sunday and he wants sushi from the Japanese restaurant. So I thought we could eat out to celebrate his birthday, but yes, I was concerned about others working on Sunday. I guess if someone had to work on Sunday b/c their employer required it (or b/c they needed the money to pay rent), they could always ask for an hour off in order to worship. I don’t think an employer could legally say “no” to that, could they?

These kinds of threads always stir up a buzz. Don’t blame yourself. Some posters will always impose a stricter interpretation on the teachings of the Church on other Catholics were there is no basis. The CCC does not strictly prohibit eating out on Sundays, it allows for Catholics to discern if such an activity fits into celebrating the Lord’s day by being with family and resting and enjoying themselves. Its not to replace our Sunday obligation of going to Mass of course. But there is interpretation in the CCC for both attending Mass and enjoying ourselves, sometimes that means going out to be with family for a meal at an eating establishment. Or going to the movies, or going to a concert, etc, etc.

Catholics can certainly refrain from going out on Sundays as a personal decision if they feel it helps them draw closer to God. Same as a Catholic may say the rosary every day or go to Mass every day or any other personal devotion. But we are not prohibited from enjoying ourselves on Sunday and that can mean frequenting a restaurant. If this really bothers you specifically, why not celebrate on Saturday instead?

 

[cheezey]

These kinds of threads always stir up a buzz. Don’t blame yourself. Some posters will always impose a stricter interpretation on the teachings of the Church on other Catholics were there is no basis. The CCC does not strictly prohibit eating out on Sundays, it allows for Catholics to discern if such an activity fits into celebrating the Lord’s day by being with family and resting and enjoying themselves. Its not to replace our Sunday obligation of going to Mass of course. But there is interpretation in the CCC for both attending Mass and enjoying ourselves, sometimes that means going out to be with family for a meal at an eating establishment. Or going to the movies, or going to a concert, etc, etc.

Catholics can certainly refrain from going out on Sundays as a personal decision if they feel it helps them draw closer to God. Same as a Catholic may say the rosary every day or go to Mass every day or any other personal devotion. But we are not prohibited from enjoying ourselves on Sunday and that can mean frequenting a restaurant. If this really bothers you specifically, why not celebrate on Saturday instead?

now that’s a good idea!!

 

[cheezey]

…

2195 of the second edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

“Every Christian should avoid making unnecessary demands on others that would hinder them from observing the Lord’s Day.”

That to me means, don’t eat out at restaurants on Sundays.

I offered to work Sundays as a way to give back to Him by way of being there for the lonely people who felt a little more human for being less isolated on His day.

 

[PatriceA]

I offered to work Sundays as a way to give back to Him by way of being there for the lonely people who felt a little more human for being less isolated on His day.

God bless you! That’s wonderful!

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I believe that 2187 is speaking about those who* work*** on Sundays… should make sure they get adequate time for rest. Meaning, don’t work the whole day. I don’t know if I quoted the part from the book “My Catholic Faith” but it said that if people have to do servile work on Sunday it shouldn’t be for more than two hours. I would suspect that is what 2187 is talking about.

The book you are quoting from sounds like it could give good general advice, but it is not more authoritative than the Catechism.

Also, if we are speaking about resturant workers, I do not think they have enough control over their schedules to say they are only giong to work 2 hours.

In situations like these, I think we do better to consider our own situations and habits and not distort the issue too much with what others are doing.

We should refrain from “servile” work *ourselves *on Sundays as much as possible. Usually that means not leaving over housework or other chores to Sunday instead we should use the day for worship (Mass) and re-creation (relaxing).

One of the common or traditional ways to relax is to go out to eat. The example given earlier was of people living alone who may use a Sunday dinner out as a way to socialize, or a family relaxing together.

Since the CCC says that is an allowable option, we cannot say that it is never OK. In the OPs case, she does not often go out to eat on a Sunday, but plans to do so for one special occasion. She is well within the instruction in the CCC.

On the other hand, I do agree that we should not spend every Sunday pleasure-shopping or eating out. Not because those things are forbidden on Sundays, but because they can become a way to divide instead of unite. A family at the mall often divides up to go to different stores, may argue about which resturant to go to, and in general find themselves more focused on “me” than on God and the family unit.