Expert: Tom Schott - 9/25/2008

Question
Why is it okay to eat fish on Fridays during Lent but not meat?

Answer
Tnank you very much for making yourself clear and for your patience with my misunderstanding, and, oh, for your harsh ratings. You could have explained this to me without hammering me. This is not very kind to a stranger who uses his valuable time for no other reason other than to help people.

For your information: meat was and still is considered a food that only the wealthy or well-off can afford. This is true throughout most of the world today. So the Church for centuries has required that people forgo meat, a luxury, during Lent, since that is a time of self-denial and sacrifice. Church law changed just recently to require this abstinence from meat only on Fridays and Ash Wednesday.

I trust this answers your question.




Mary,

Because Church law requires that anyone who is physically able must abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent and on Ash Wednesday. Meat does not include seafood or mussels such as clams and oysters or shellfish such as shrimp, crabs, or crawfish.