Catholics can now munch on corned beef without feeling guilty

Many Catholics around the world adhere to their obligation to abstain from eating meat on the Fridays between Lent, but today is St. Patrick’s Day, so many parishes (including Rockford ) allows guilt-free consumption of corned beef.

The bishop who oversees the Catholic diocese of Rockford has issued a special St. Patrick’s Day dispensation for believers. That’s good luck for Irish and non-Irish people.

With a large Catholic population of Irish descent in Rockford Parish, St. Patrick’s Day is understandably a special day. Bishop David Malloy has granted a waiver of the obligation to abstain from meat on March 17, 2023.

Those who make use of this Friday Out of the Fish card are “encouraged to perform acts of philanthropy, piety, or equivalent penance during the third week of Lent.”

Matt McDonald of The National Catholic Register investigated All US bishops to find out which bishops are offering free passes on St. Patrick’s Day. This report from The Catholic News Agency.

As of Thursday, March 16, it was found that 72.6% of parishes (127) were proposing some relaxation from the St. Patrick’s Day “no meat Friday rule for Lent”.

Of those who answered “yes” in some way, 93 diocesan bishops offered the preparations unconditionally, although many of those bishops offered additional prayers, spiritual exercises, or other alternatives. The story says it suggests cutting out meat during the day.

The bishops of 34 dioceses have in one way or another said “yes, but…” — what canonical law calls an “exchange” of requirements, such as attending Mass on St. Patrick’s Day or saying St. Patrick’s breastplate. I requested a proxy through We pray the Rosary, abstain from meat on another day, and help the poor.

In Iowa, there are no divisions between Des Moines and Sioux City parishes. The bishops of Chicago and Springfield also said no, but in the Diocese of Chicago people at events “celebrating St. can be replaced by austerities or acts of great importance. It is a charitable organization that benefits the poor.”

The last time St. Patrick’s Day fell on a Friday was March 17, 2017. Lent he ends on Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023.