Dear Editor, At a time when we are being asked by Pope Francis among others to rethink our relationship to our God-made environment, we are asked to examine our consumption patterns. One aspect of consumption is the food we eat.
As Church, we are also called upon to make acts of personal sacrifice including special efforts on Fridays, the day each week when we commemorate the sacrificial death of Jesus on the Cross.
In May 2010 the Bishops of England and Wales revisited that subject and reintroduced the ancient practice of Friday abstinence as a most clear and obvious way of fulfilling this duty.
Catholic institutions were called upon to respect the new dispensation and school kitchens successfully adapted their menus accordingly. As a former school principal I am very aware of how powerful an impact this ‘fish on Friday’ has become. It brought into weekly focus our twice yearly CAFOD Family Fast Days, which had become so distinctive of English Catholic schools.
Perhaps as Irish Church it is time to consider a ‘fish on Friday’ option.
Yours etc.,
Alan Whelan,
Killarney, Co Kerry.
