When and Why did the Catholic Faith drop the practice of NOT eating meat on Fridays?

Question

I was just wondering where this practice came from and why it was dropped? I am not very familiar with The Church, and I am quite curious by nature. Any info would be great! Thanks!

Answer 1

Most Catholics think that Vatican II did away with the requirement of not eating meat on any Friday of the year. Most think it is now just Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent that we cannot eat meat.

This is what the new Code of Canon Law brought out in 1983 says about the matter:

Canon 1251
Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Canon Law still requires that Catholics not eat meat on Fridays!

Of course, most Episcopal Conferences have determined that, instead of abstaining from meat, Catholics may perform an act of penance of their choosing. But, do you ever remember to abstain from a particular food or do some other penance on Fridays? And, at any rate, the main rule is still to abstain from meat on Fridays, the performance of another penance instead is an optional alternative.

It's very interesting to note that the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (the United States' Episcopal Conference) is currently debating whether to rescind the determination and require all Catholics to abstain from meat on all Fridays of the year. The Bishops are considering that a return to meatless Fridays for all Catholics would be of benefit because:

It is an expression of one's Catholicity; and
In reparation for the grave sin of abortion.

Answer 2

Friday is the day of the crucifixion, so it has always been a penitential day. In European culture in the middle ages, not eating meat was a common penitential act. (It would be like a modern American deciding not to eat fast-food or snack cakes.) Because it was a common penance, and because the church wanted to helpfully recommend an idea for people who weren't focused enough to think of one, it was suggested as a good Friday penance. Eventually, it was specified as THE standard Friday penance and everybody had to do it. Nowadays, recognizing cultural differences, the church no longer specifies non-meat-eating for Fridays, but leaves people to come up with their own appropriate way to show a little sacrifice on that day. The only time when we all make a unified gesture of no-meat is during Lent between Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. (It's good for everybody to do the same thing all together now and then.)

Answer 3

It hasn't been dropped, it's just been updated. Now instead of no meat on Fridays, it's no meat on Fridays but only during Lent. The 40 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter. I guess the Church like life itself, has become fast paced and has made adjustments with the lifestyle. I do practice the no eating on Fridays during Lent and I also give up (sacrifice) something during that time too. To show my willingness to do something for hi, (God). After all he did sacrafice a lot for us, the most being his life.

Answer 4

From what I heard, and forgive me if I am wrong. But it was understood during the time of the depression or towards the end of the depression the Fishing industry couldn't market there fish and thus no one was making any money. Then as the "Story" I am putting it that the catholic church and the fishing industry got together and made it up that it was un holy to eat meat on Friday. In order to get profit for the fishermen. However, they changed it from every Friday to just during Lent. I haven't heard that they completely abolished it, but then again anything is possibly. Please don't take for what I said as accurate, I am telling you as I was told a long time ago. But it seemed logical enough!

Answer 5

"Q: Where did the law about not eating meat on Fridays originate? When was this changed to Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent?

A: Already in the fourth century, there was a Church law about abstinence (not eating meat on certain days). Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays were once days of abstinence in the Western Church. By the 12th century, this was required only on Ash Wednesday and on Fridays—to remind Christians that Jesus died on this day. (Later, abstinence was added in connection with a few feasts.)

The U.S. bishops decided in 1966 to require fasting and abstinence only on Ash Wednesday, the Fridays of Lent and on Good Friday. Earlier that year, Pope Paul VI allowed conferences of bishops to select days of fast and abstinence.

Why abstain from meat? People like it and notice its absence. Christian fasting regulations once included milk and eggs. Fasting and abstaining show respect for God’s creation by using it more sparingly at times. "

Answer 6

Not eating meat on Fridays is in Honor of the passion of Jesus. Catholics are still taught to do some form of penance in Honor of the passion but it doesn't necessarily have to be abstaining from meat. It is however still necessary for catholics to abstain from meat on all Fridays of lent and fast on ash Wednesday and good Friday.

lol I've herd that one before patioff ... but the pracitice had been in use 100's of years before the depression.

Answer 7

My understanding is that meatless Fridays was meant to honor the fact that Jesus was executed on a Friday. I think it's now voluntary for Catholics. When I was a kid it was law. I don't know why the rule changed.

Answer 8

It was changed after Vatican II and only kept in practice during Lent.

Answer 9

Officially, it never did. I'm not certain exactly how it became this "only during lent" tradition as it's practiced int he USA.

Answer 10

I'm Catholic and I don't follow that. I eat whatever the hell I want.