Expert: Edward Bode - 9/11/2004

Question
Dear Edward,

In RC teaching, was / is eating meat on Fridays a sin and if so since when in history was this so defined, and how was it defined eg by canon law or what other authority?

Thank you

Charles


Answer
Historically, references to Friday abstinence go back at least to the second century AD.  Traditionally, meat has been defined as referring to warm-blooded animals, including mammals and birds.
Canon 1251 of the current code of Canon Law, published in 1983, delegates most authority about abstinence to the national conferences of bishops.
The website of the Archdioces of Baltimore has this summary of current practice:
All persons who have reached their 14th birthday are bound by the law of abstinence. All adults are bound by the law of fast up to their 60th year.
The current canonical discipline of penance for the United States, in addition to the general character of the Lenten season, may thus be summed up:
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of abstinence from meat and also days of fast; that is, limited to a single full meal.
The other Fridays of Lent remain days of abstinence from meat.
The Fridays of the year outside Lent remain days of penance, but each individual may sustitute for the traditional abstinence from meat some other practice of voluntary self-denial or personal penance; this may be physical mortification or temperance or acts of religion, charity, or Christian witness.
[end of website article]
I hope this information is of some help, Charles.  If you would like more, please feel free to write again.
Best wishes.