In the 1960’s, when the rest of United States Roman Catholics were enjoying the liberty to mark Friday penance in their own way, Catholics in the Archdiocese of Boston were still required to abstain from meat on Fridays, as Richard Cardinal Cushing’s ear had been bent by the fishing lobby in Massachusetts.
Now we hear the news that Roman Catholics in England and Wales will be required to abstain from meat on Fridays from September this year. The bishops have helpfully specified that vegetarians and vegans may abstain from some other food that they enjoy.
I presume that the usual Thursday and Friday menus in rectories starting in September will be the same as it was when I was a kid. Thursday was Prime Rib night for the Reverend Fathers, and Friday was Lobster night. Penance is such a privation.
One presumes that this edict will be followed by all English and Welsh Roman Catholics with the same assiduity as they follow the rules on artificial contraception and attending the Eucharist on Sundays.
Paddy was in a swank restaurant on a Friday evening. When he looked at the menu, he called the waiter over and said, “I’ll have a shark steak, rare.” The waiter replied, “Sir, we don’t serve shark steak here.” Paddy said, “Well, God knows, I asked for fish. I’ll have a prime rib, medium rare.”
like you, I was gobsmacked by this news. as they said in some movie or other, “good luck with that” (to the church, pushing fishes).
this really looks like circling the wagons to me